# Effect of the pseudogap on the mean-field magnetic penetration depth of YBa2Cu3O7-δ thin films

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## Abstract

We report measurements of the $`ab`$-plane penetration depth, $`\lambda (T)`$, in YBa<sub>2</sub>Cu<sub>3</sub>O<sub>7-δ</sub> films at various $`\delta `$. At optimal doping, critical fluctuation effects are absent, and $`1/\lambda ^2(T)`$ from 4 K to 0.99 $`T_C`$ is that of a clean, strong-coupling d-wave superconductor with $`\mathrm{\Delta }_0(0)/k_BT_C3.3`$. As in crystals, underdoping reduces the superfluid density, $`n_s(0)1/\lambda ^2(0)`$, without affecting the low-$`T`$ slope of $`1/\lambda ^2(T)`$. These results, as well as electronic heat capacity data, are well described by an ad hoc model in which contributions to the superfluid and entropy are lost from regions of the Fermi surface occupied by the pseudogap.

PACS Nos. 74.25.Fy, 74.25.Nf, 74.40.+k, 74.76.Bz

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A large body of experimental evidence indicates the opening of a k-dependent gap, or pseudogap, at a temperature, $`T^{}`$, above the superconducting transition temperature, $`T_C`$, in underdoped cuprates . The pseudogap competes with the superconducting gap: $`T^{}`$ and the fraction of the Fermi surface (FS) occupied by the pseudogap increase with underdoping, while $`T_C`$, the superfluid density in the $`ab`$-plane, $`n_S(0)`$, and the peak value of the electronic specific heat coefficient, $`\gamma (T)`$, at $`T_C`$ decrease. A great deal of effort currently focuses on understanding the coexistence of these two gaps. Lee and coworkers propose that the fundamental physics lies in spin-charge separation, a key element being the segmentation of the FS into regions either occupied or unoccupied by the pseudogap in the normal state . With this in mind, we construct a simple model to describe our measurements of $`n_S(T)`$ and literature results for $`\gamma (T)`$, in which only portions of the FS unoccupied by the pseudogap contribute to the superfluid and entropy in the superconducting state.

We present new measurements of $`1/\lambda ^2(T)n_S(T)`$ in YBa<sub>2</sub>Cu<sub>3</sub>O<sub>7-δ</sub> (YBCO) films at various $`\delta `$. We show that $`1/\lambda ^2(T)`$ in optimally-doped films is that of a clean, strong-coupling d-wave superconductor with a full FS. Underdoped films are well described by a Fermi liquid-like model, in which electronic properties are expressed as integrals over the FS, but the integrals extend only over sections of the FS not occupied by the pseudogap in the normal state. The fraction of the FS that survives is equal to the ratio of $`n_S(0)`$ of the underdoped film to $`n_{S,opt.}(0)`$ of the same film at optimal doping.

The absence of critical fluctuations in optimally-doped YBCO films  and measurements of the effect of thermal phase fluctuations on 2D films of a conventional superconductor  lead us to conclude that fluctuation effects are weak in the underdoped films. However, the relative importance of thermal phase fluctuations (TPF’s) to single particle excitations is controversial. Carlson et al.  have shown numerically that a fluctuation driven superfluid density in Josephson junction (JJ) arrays displays features similar to some very clean YBCO crystals, namely, $`T`$-linear behavior at low-$`T`$ , $`T_C`$ roughly proportional to $`n_S(0)`$, and a wide critical region . Terahertz measurements of the sheet conductance of BSCCO films also suggest a wide fluctuation region . On the other hand, theoretical analyses of TPF’s in underdoped cuprates conclude that fluctuations are too weak at low-$`T`$ to account for the $`T`$-linear behavior of $`\lambda (T)`$ . Consistent with these results, our estimates indicate that the effects of TPF’s are minor.

It is not known why fluctuation effects near $`T_C`$ are weak in optimally-doped YBCO films  and some crystals , while appearing strong in other crystals . Films are of high quality, based on their $`T`$-linear $`\lambda (T)`$ at low-$`T`$ and transition widths less than 1 K. Evidently, critical fluctuations are sensitive to structural differences which affect neither of these quality indicators. An estimate of the coupling between CuO bilayers in optimally-doped YBCO  finds that for $`T`$ within 5 K of $`T_C`$, the ratio of interlayer coupling to in-plane coupling (J’/J in ref. ) is greater than unity and fluctuations should be strongly suppressed. To us, the presence of critical fluctuations in crystals is surprising, but their absence in films is not. We speculate that a significant portion of what appear to be critical fluctuations in crystals is, in fact, due to the rapid decrease in the quasiparticle scattering rate as $`T`$ decreases below $`T_C`$  which serves to rapidly increase the conductivity, $`\sigma _1(\omega ,T)`$, for $`\omega `$ less than the gap frequency, $`\mathrm{\Delta }_0(T)/\mathrm{}`$, thereby increasing $`n_S`$ . The decrease in scattering rate is known to be less rapid in disordered samples .

The d-wave theory which we use is an extension of the weak-coupling result for $`\lambda ^2(0)/\lambda ^2(T/T_{C0})`$  to strong coupling by increasing the ratio $`\mathrm{\Delta }_0(0)/k_BT_{C0}`$ above its weak-coupling value of 2.14, while preserving the dependence of $`\mathrm{\Delta }_0(T/T_{C0})/\mathrm{\Delta }_0(0)`$ on $`T/T_{C0}`$. $`T_{C0}`$ is the mean-field transition temperature. $`1/\lambda ^2(T)`$ and $`\gamma (T)`$ are determined from the usual FS integrals over k-space and energy.

For simplicity, we neglect possible deviations of $`\mathrm{\Delta }(𝐤,T)`$ from $`\mathrm{\Delta }_0(T)`$cos(2$`\varphi `$) which are reported in ARPES measurements on underdoped Bi<sub>2</sub>Sr<sub>2</sub>Ca<sub>1</sub>Cu<sub>2</sub>O<sub>8+δ</sub> (BSCCO)  and which may or may not be present in YBCO. Possible anomalous behavior of the quasi-1D CuO chains  is not included. Because such behavior is not observed in untwinned crystals, it is likely that chain specific effects are negligible in our highly twinned films. Variation of the Fermi velocity, $`v_F(𝐤)`$, with $`𝐤`$ is not included. If $`n_S(0)`$ is a factor $`F`$ smaller than in the optimally-doped film, then FS integrals are taken only over the angular interval, $`\pm F(\pi /4)`$, centered at each node in $`\mathrm{\Delta }(𝐤,T)`$.

2D TPF’s are predicted to suppress $`n_S(T)`$  by a factor: $`af_Q(T)k_BT\mu _0\lambda _{}(T)/\mathrm{}R_Q`$. $`1/\lambda _{}(T)d/\lambda ^2(T)`$; $`d`$ = 11.7 $`\AA `$ for YBCO. The prefactor, a, is not well known theoretically. We use $`a=0.175`$ which is consistent with measurements on a-MoGe films  and calculations for a hexagonal array of resistively shunted JJ’s . $`R_Q\mathrm{}/4e^21027\mathrm{\Omega }`$ and $`f_Q`$ ($`0f_Q1`$) represents quantum suppression of TPF’s. The 2D transition, $`T_{2D}`$, is expected where $`\lambda _{}(T_{2D})T_{2D}\pi \mathrm{}R_Q/2k_B`$ = 9.8 mmK. Since $`T_{2D}`$ is near $`T_C`$, this condition is approximately $`\lambda _{}(T_{2D})9.8\mathrm{mmK}/T_C`$. (In the absence of quantum effects, $`T_{2D}`$ is the Kosterlitz-Thouless-Berezinskii transition temperature $`T_{KTB}`$.) As $`T`$ approaches $`T_{2D}`$, the suppression of $`n_S(T)`$ grows rapidly due to nonlinear effects, reaching 20% to 50% just below $`T_{2D}`$.

Quantum suppression of TPF’s in films has been controversial for some time. Recently, quantum effects were predicted  and observed  to suppress TPF’s when $`k_BT/\mathrm{}`$ drops below the ”$`R/L`$” frequency of the film. Approximately, the sheet inductance is $`L=\mu _0\lambda _{}(T)`$ and the sheet conductance is $`1/R=\sigma _1(\omega \mathrm{\Delta }_0/\mathrm{},T)d`$. For optimally-doped YBCO, $`f_Q`$ should be much less than unity below $`0.8T_C`$.

Data presented here for films grown by coevaporation and sputtering are representative of other high quality films. Films allow the rapid and reversible adjustment of oxygen content without altering the thickness or microstructure of the film. The coevaporated YBCO films were grown using the BaF<sub>2</sub> method  with a room temperature SrTiO<sub>3</sub> substrate in an atmosphere of about $`5\times 10^6`$ torr of O<sub>2</sub>, with a postanneal in wet oxygen. After careful refinement of the growth rates from measurements of film stoichiometry by Rutherford Backscattering, YBCO films grown by this method consistently display a linear low-T penetration depth. Additional films made by RF sputtering and by in-situ coevaporation of Sm, Ba, and Cu  onto substrates held at 750 C to 800 C are presented. Optimally-doped film transition widths were less than 1 K, based on the peak in the real conductivity $`\sigma _1(T)`$. One of the codeposited YBCO films was deoxygenated three times to $``$ O<sub>6.8</sub>, O<sub>6.7</sub>, and O<sub>6.6</sub> (determined from $`T_C`$) using low temperature anneals in argon.

The complex conductivity, $`\sigma =\sigma _1i\sigma _2`$, is determined from the mutual inductance of coaxial coils driven at 50 kHz located on opposite sides of the film . With a well defined coil geometry and known film thickness, $`s`$, Maxwell’s equations provide $`\sigma `$ as a function of the

measured mutual inductance. Great care is taken to ensure that measurements are made in the linear response regime to within 0.1 K of $`T_C`$ by taking successive measurements at increasingly smaller drive coil currents. $`\sigma _1`$ is very much smaller than $`\sigma _2`$ everywhere except very close to $`T_C`$. From $`\sigma _2`$ we define $`\lambda _{}`$:

$`\lambda _{}(T){\displaystyle \frac{s/d}{\mu _0\sigma _2\omega }}.`$ (1)   
While $`\lambda _{}(0)`$ is determined to an accuracy of about 10%, limited by uncertainty in film thickness, relative changes induced by deoxygenation are known to better than 5%.

Figure 1 shows $`1/\lambda _{}(T)`$ for an optimally-doped YBCO film. The solid curve is weak-coupling d-wave theory ($`\mathrm{\Delta }_0(0)/k_BT_{C0}=2.14`$) fitted to the low-$`T`$ data by adjusting $`T_{C0}`$. The dashed curve, which is nearly indistinguishable from the data, is strong-coupling d-wave theory with $`\mathrm{\Delta }_0(0)/k_B=3.3T_{C0}300`$ K, consistent with tunneling measurements . The upper right inset to Figure 1 shows the excellent agreement between the measured $`1/\lambda _{}(T)`$ and mean-field curves for several optimally-doped YBCO films and one film of SmBa<sub>2</sub>Cu<sub>3</sub>O<sub>7-δ</sub>. Given $`1/\lambda _{}(0)`$ and taking $`v_F`$ = $`0.7\times 10^5`$ m/s , $`\gamma (T)`$ calculated with the same gap compares well with data  on bulk YBCO (lower left inset to Fig. 1, with $`\gamma _0`$ = 16 mJ/mole K<sup>2</sup>). The small experi-

mental $`\gamma (T)`$ at low-$`T`$ could be fit better if the model allowed a k-dependent $`v_F`$ and deviations of $`\mathrm{\Delta }(𝐤)`$ from cos(2$`\varphi `$).

The inset to Figure 2 shows $`1/\lambda _{}(T)`$ for a YBCO film at three stages of deoxygenation. It is striking that $`n_S(T)/T`$ at low-$`T`$ (not necessarily the normalized shape) is essentially independent of doping despite the introduction of oxygen vacancies into the CuO chains. In our model, the unchanged slope, $`d\lambda _{}^1(T)/dT|_{T0}`$, indicates no change in the opening of the gap near the gap nodes . The downward curvature of $`1/\lambda _{}(T)`$ reflects that of $`\mathrm{\Delta }_0(T)`$ if TPF’s are negligible. We wish to extract the underlying mean-field behavior by estimating the effect of 2D TPF’s. For reference, the intersection of the dotted line with $`1/\lambda _{}(T)`$ (inset to Figure 2) would locate $`T_{2D}`$ were there no interlayer coupling and no quantum suppression of phase fluctuations.

The dashed curves in the inset and main portion of Figure 2 are extrapolations of the data taken below $`T_{2D}`$. The lower solid curves are fits in which hypothetical mean-field behavior (upper solid curves) is suppressed by TPF’s. Since the influence of TPF’s is determined by $`T`$, the normal-state sheet resistance, and $`\lambda _{}(T)`$, all measured quantities, the only fitting parameter is $`T_{C0}`$. The third deoxygenation step yields fits similar to the first two, but is left out for clarity. A reduction in fluctuations as a result of interlayer coupling would bring the fluctuation-

corrected mean-field result closer to the data, so uncertainty in mean-field behavior is bracketed by the upper solid curves and the data. We take the simple extrapolations (dashed curves) as reasonable approximations to mean-field behavior at least for $`T<T_{2D}`$. Our conclusions are insensitive to the extrapolation and to the ”foot” seen just below $`T_C`$ which is likely due to oxygen inhomogeneity.

Figure 3 displays the normal fluid density, $`n_N(T)1/\lambda _{}(0)1/\lambda _{}(T)`$, represented by the mean-field (dashed) curves of Fig. 2. Our model reproduces these when $`\mathrm{\Delta }_0(0)300K`$ is fixed and $`T_{C0}F^{2/5}`$, where $`F`$ $`n_S(0)/n_{S,opt.}(0)`$ in the experimental range, $`0.4F1`$. The gap ratio, $`\mathrm{\Delta }_0(0)/k_BT_{C0}`$, increases with underdoping, but the gap ratio defined from the maximum gap on the contributing FS segments, $`\mathrm{\Delta }_{max}=\mathrm{\Delta }_0(0)cos(\frac{\pi }{2}(1F))`$, increases only slightly. The contributing FS segments and $`\mathrm{\Delta }_{max}`$ are shown pictorially in the inset to Figure 3.

The model provides a basis for interpretation of $`\gamma (T)`$ . For optimal and mildly underdoped YBCO, there are three striking features in the data. One is that $`\gamma (T)`$ for $`T`$ 60 K is nearly independent of doping. Another is that the peak value of $`\gamma (T)`$ at $`T_C`$ decreases much more rapidly than $`T_C`$ with underdoping. Finally, the electronic entropy just above $`T_C`$, i.e., the integral of $`\gamma (T)`$ from 0 K to $`T_C`$, decreases significantly. This implies that the hypothetical normal-state $`\gamma (T)`$ must decrease dramatically as $`T`$ decreases below $`T_C`$, even though $`\gamma `$ is nearly constant for $`T>T_C`$.

Figure 3 shows that $`\gamma (T)`$ calculated with parameters fixed by $`\lambda (T)`$ has all of the experimental features mentioned above. This is significant. Simple models which account for the reduction in $`n_S(0)`$ by an increase in the effective mass of electrons, for example, would not describe $`\gamma `$ accurately. Our model incorrectly predicts that $`\gamma (T)`$ just above $`T_C`$ should decrease with underdoping. We hypothesize that our model describes the electron degrees of freedom that condense into the superconducting state, and that there exists, in addition, an anomalous contribution to $`\gamma (T)`$ which arises from degrees of freedom not associated with the superfluid (perhaps from electron spin degrees of freedom) and which decreases rapidly in the vicinity of $`T_C`$.

For strong underdoping, $`F0.4`$, the model predicts that the thermodynamic critical field, $`B_C(0)`$, is proportional to $`n_S(0)^{1/2}T_{C0}`$, and the upper critical field, $`B_{C2}(0)`$, perpendicular to the $`ab`$-plane is proportional to $`T_{C0}^2`$ .

The authors would like to thank Aaron A. Pesetski and John A. Skinta for useful discussions and James E. Baumgardner II for numerical calculations and data analysis software. The SmBaCuO film was generously provided by Vladimir Matijasevic. This work was supported in part by DOE Contract No. DE-FG02-90ER45427 through the Midwest Superconductivity Consortium.