Restored strange metal phase through suppression of charge density waves in underdoped YBa<sub>2</sub>Cu<sub>3</sub>O<sub>7-δ</sub>.

Wahlberg, Eric; Arpaia, Riccardo; Seibold, Götz; Rossi, Matteo; Fumagalli, Roberto; Trabaldo, Edoardo; Brookes, Nicholas B; Braicovich, Lucio et al. · Science · 2021

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The normal state of optimally doped cuprates is dominated by the “strange metal” phase that shows a linear temperature (<i>T</i>) dependence of the resistivity persisting down to the lowest <i>T.</i> For underdoped cuprates, this behavior is lost below the pseudogap temperature <i>T</i>*, where charge density waves (CDWs), together with other intertwined local orders, characterize the ground state. We found that the <i>T</i>-linear resistivity of highly strained, ultrathin, underdoped YBa<sub>2</sub>Cu<sub>3</sub>O<sub>7–δ</sub> films is restored when the CDW amplitude, detected by resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, is suppressed. This observation suggests an intimate connection between the onset of CDWs and the departure from <i>T</i>-linear resistivity in underdoped cuprates. Our results illustrate the potential of using strain control to manipulate the ground state of quantum materials.