Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 217004 (2008) [4 pages]Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking by a (d+id) Density-Wave State in Underdoped Cuprate SuperconductorsReceived 15 November 2007; published 30 May 2008 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. © 2008 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.217004
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.217004
PACS:
74.72.−h, 71.27.+a, 74.25.Nf
|
|
About | Terms and Conditions | Subscriptions | Search | Help
Use of the American Physical Society websites and journals implies that the user has read and agrees to our Terms and Conditions and any applicable Subscription Agreement. Physical Review®, Physical Review Letters®, Reviews of Modern Physics®, and Physical Review Special Topics® are trademarks of the American Physical Society.