Nearly singular magnetic fluctuations in the normal state of a high-Tc cuprate superconductor.

Aeppli, G; Mason, TE; Hayden, SM; Mook, HA; Kulda, J · Science · 1997

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Polarized and unpolarized neutron scattering was used to measure the wave vector- and frequency-dependent magnetic fluctuations in the normal state (from the superconducting transition temperature, Tc = 35 kelvin, up to 350 kelvin) of single crystals of La1.86Sr0.14CuO4. The peaks that dominate the fluctuations have amplitudes that decrease as T-2 and widths that increase in proportion to the thermal energy, kBT (where kB is Boltzmann's constant), and energy transfer added in quadrature. The nearly singular fluctuations are consistent with a nearby quantum critical point.