Discriminating between stripes and pseudogap using the isotope effect in high-Tc superconductors
Abstract
We have investigated the isotope effect in Tc and in the superfluid density in La_2-xSr_xCu_1-yZn_yO4 across a broad doping range. Three different techniques have been used for the latter effect: magnetisation, ac susceptibility and muon spin relaxation. An isotope effect in the superfluid density is not expected in simple models but is a natural outcome of a normal-state pseudogap competing with superconductivity. Two distinct behaviours are identified one with the canonical behaviour expected for a competing pseudogap and a huge non-canonical effect around p=0.125 which is clearly attributable to stripes. The effect of Zn substitution is to suppress the stripe effect relative to the pseudogap effect. These results demonstrate a clear distinction between stripes and the pseudogap.
- Publication:
-
APS March Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- March 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004APS..MARJ12001T