Interplay between hole superconductivity and quantum critical antiferromagnetic fluctuations in electron-doped cuprates
Antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations are the most promising candidate as the pairing glue of high critical temperature (T<sub>c</sub>) superconductivity in cuprates. However, many-body states and intertwined orders have made it difficult to determine how electrons couple with fluctuating spins to form Cooper pairs. Recent experimental and theoretical studies have suggested spin fluctuation-driven quasiparticle band folding, but the relationship between the resultant Fermi pockets and superconductivity remains unclear. Here, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and numerical simulations, we show a proportional relationship between T<sub>c</sub> and the quasiparticle weight of the incipient hole pocket near the nodal point in electron-doped Pr<sub>1-x</sub>LaCe<sub>x</sub>CuO<sub>4±δ</sub>. Through complementary muon spin spectroscopy measurements, we uncover that the hole pocket forms only in the regime of the fluctuating antiferromagnetic ground state around a presumed quantum critical point. Our observations highlight the significance of the electron-spin fluctuation interaction in enhancing the hole pocket and consequently driving superconductivity.
Authors
- Changyoung Kim
- Cheng‐Maw Cheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7569-6757)
- Seung Ryong Park
- Woo‐Bin Jung (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3396-0596)
- Zecheng Shen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7357-2550)
- Wonshik Kyung (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8750-5471)
- Shigeyuki Ishida (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9445-8079)
- Suheon Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0705-0452)
- Dongjoon Song (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3759-9646)
- Sungkyun Choi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8267-8581)
- Saegyeol Jung (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3756-4278)
- Kwang‐Yong Choi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8213-5395)
- Hiroshi Eisaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8299-6416)
- Yao Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1736-0187)
- Wonjun Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4848-852X)
- Junyoung Kwon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9615-7827)
- Y. Yoshida
Institutions
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (KR)
- Seoul National University (KR)
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Incheon National University (KR)
- Emory University (US)
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (TW)
- Institute for Basic Science (KR)
- National University College (PR)
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (JP)
- Sungkyunkwan University (KR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-03-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57942-z
- Primary Topic
- Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Research Foundation of Korea
- Canada First Research Excellence Fund
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research