Universal correlation between H-linear magnetoresistance and T-linear resistivity in high-temperature superconductors

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Quantum Materials

Background:

• The 'strange metal' state in high-temperature cuprate superconductors is characterized by linear-in-temperature resistivity.
• Anomalous linear-in-field magnetoresistance has been observed in a limited doping range, with its connection to the strange metal state and superconductivity remaining unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between linear-in-field magnetoresistance and the strange metal state in hole-doped cuprates.
• To clarify the underlying mechanisms governing superconductivity in these materials.

Main Methods:

• Performed in-plane magnetoresistance measurements on three different families of hole-doped cuprates.
• Varied temperature, magnetic field strength, and doping levels across a wide range.

Main Results:

• Discovered a universal correlation between the coefficient of linear-in-field magnetoresistance (γ1) and the coefficient of linear-in-temperature resistivity (α1).
• This correlation contradicts predictions from standard Boltzmann transport theory.
• Proposed a phenomenological model involving real-space inhomogeneity to explain the observed correlation.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest that superconductivity in hole-doped cuprates is primarily determined by the concentration of strange metallic carriers.
• This challenges the prevailing view that superconductivity is governed by the strength of quasiparticle interactions with bosonic fluctuations.