Topological spin texture in the pseudogap phase of a high-Tc superconductor

Zechao Wang, Ke Pei, Liting Yang, Chendi Yang, Guanyu Chen, Xuebing Zhao, Chao Wang, Zhengwang Liu, Yuan Li (), Renchao Che () and Jing Zhu ()
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Zechao Wang: Tsinghua University
Ke Pei: Fudan University
Liting Yang: Fudan University
Chendi Yang: Fudan University
Guanyu Chen: Fudan University
Xuebing Zhao: Fudan University
Chao Wang: Fudan University
Zhengwang Liu: Fudan University
Yuan Li: Peking University
Renchao Che: Fudan University
Jing Zhu: Tsinghua University

Nature, 2023, vol. 615, issue 7952, 405-410

Abstract: Abstract An outstanding challenge in condensed-matter-physics research over the past three decades has been to understand the pseudogap (PG) phenomenon of the high-transition-temperature (high-Tc) copper oxides. A variety of experiments have indicated a symmetry-broken state below the characteristic temperature T* (refs. 1–8). Among them, although the optical study5 indicated the mesoscopic domains to be small, all these experiments lack nanometre-scale spatial resolution, and the microscopic order parameter has so far remained elusive. Here we report, to our knowledge, the first direct observation of topological spin texture in an underdoped cuprate, YBa2Cu3O6.5, in the PG state, using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (LTEM). The spin texture features vortex-like magnetization density in the CuO2 sheets, with a relatively large length scale of about 100 nm. We identify the phase-diagram region in which the topological spin texture exists and demonstrate the ortho-II oxygen order and suitable sample thickness to be crucial for its observation by our technique. We also discuss an intriguing interplay observed among the topological spin texture, PG state, charge order and superconductivity.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05731-3

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