Superconducting properties of the hole-doped three-band \emph{d-p} model studied with minimal-size real-space \emph{d}-wave pairing operators

The three-band \emph{d-p} model is investigated by means of Variational Monte-Carlo (VMC) method with the BCS-like wave-function supplemented by the Gutzwiller and Jastrow correlators. The VMC optimization leads to $d$-$wave$ superconducting state with a characteristic dome-like shape of the order parameter for hole doping $\delta \lesssim 0.4$, in a good agreement with the experimental observations. Also, the off-diagonal pair-pair correlation functions, calculated within VMC, vindicates the results obtained very recently within the diagrammatic expansion of the Gutzwiller wave function method (DE-GWF) [cf. Phys. Rev. B \textbf{99}, 104511 (2019)]. Subsequently, the nature of the $d$-$wave$ pairing is investigated by means of recently proposed \emph{minimal-size real-space d-wave pairing operators} [Phys. Rev. B \textbf{100}, 214502 (2019)]. An emergence of the long-range superconducting ordering for both $d$ and $p$ orbitals is reported by analysing the corresponding off-diagonal pair-pair correlation functions. The dominant character of \emph{d-wave} pairing on $d$ orbitals is confirmed. Additionally, the trial wave-function is used to investigate the magnetic properties of the system. The analysis of spin-spin correlation functions is carried out and shows antiferromagnetic $\mathbf{q}=(\pi,\pi)$, short-range order, as expected. For the sake of completeness, the charge gap has been estimated, which for the parent compound takes the value $\Delta_{CG}\approx1.78\pm0.51\text{ eV}$, and agrees with values reported experimentally for the cuprates

Superconductivity and intra-unit-cell electronic nematic phase in the three-band model of cuprates

The intra-unit-cell nematic phase is studied within the three-band Emery model of the cuprates with the use of the approach based on the diagrammatic expansion of the Gutzwiller wave function (DE-GWF). According to our analysis the spontaneous $C_4$ symmetry breaking of the electronic wave function, leading to the nematic behavior, can appear due to electron correlations induced mainly by the onsite Coulomb repulsion, even in the absence of the corresponding intersite oxygen-oxygen repulsion term. The latter has been considered as the triggering factor of the nematic state formation in a number of previous studies. Also, we show that, at the transition to the nematic phase electron concentration transfer from $d$- to $p$- orbitals takes place, apart from the usually discussed $p_x/p_y$ polarization. The determined stability regime of the nematic phase appears in the doping range similar to that of the paired phase, showing that both phases have a common origin, even though they compete. Also, we show that in a significant doping range a coexistence region of superconductivity and nematicity appears. The results are discussed in the view of the experimental findings considering the relation between nematicity and pseudogap behavior

Superconductivity in the three-band model of cuprates: Variational wave function study and relation to the single-band case

The $d$-$wave$ superconductivity is analyzed within the three-band $d$-$p$ model with the use of the diagrammatic expansion of the Guztwiller wave function method (DE-GWF). The determined stability regime of the superconducting state appears in the range of hole doping $\delta\lesssim 0.35$, with the optimal doping close to $\delta\approx 0.19$. The pairing amplitudes between the $d$-orbitals due to copper and $p_x/p_y$ orbitals due to oxygen are analyzed together with the hybrid $d$-$p$ pairing. The $d$-$d$ pairing between the nearest neighboring atomic sites leads to the dominant contribution to the SC phase. Moreover, it is shown that the decrease of both the Coulomb repulsion on the copper atomic sites ($U_d$) and the charge transfer energy between the oxygen and copper atomic sites ($\epsilon_{dp}$) increases the pairing strength as it moves the system from the strong to the intermediate-correlation regime, where the pairing is maximized. Such a result is consistent with our analysis of the ratio of changes in the hole content at the $d$ and $p$ orbitals due to doping, which, according to experimental study, increases with the increasing maximal critical temperature [cf. Nat. Commun. 7, 11413 (2016)]. Furthermore, the results for the three-band model are compared to those for the effective single-band picture and similarities between the two approaches are discussed. For the sake of completeness, the normal-state characteristics determined from the DE-GWF approach are compared with those resulting from the Variational Quantum Monte Carlo method with inter-site correlations included through the appropriate Jastrow factors