Time-reversal symmetry breaking by a (d+id) density-wave state in underdoped cuprate superconductors

  • Sumanta Tewari
  • , Chuanwei Zhang
  • , Victor M. Yakovenko
  • , S. Das Sarma

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

52 Scopus citations

Abstract

It was proposed that the idx2-y2 density-wave state (DDW) may be responsible for the pseudogap behavior in the underdoped cuprates. Here we show that the admixture of a small dxy component to the DDW state breaks the symmetry between the counterpropagating orbital currents of the DDW state and, thus, violates the macroscopic time-reversal symmetry. This symmetry breaking results in a nonzero polar Kerr effect, which has recently been observed in the pseudogap phase.

Original languageEnglish
Article number217004
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume100
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - May 30 2008

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