Fermi-liquid based theory for the in-plane magnetic anisotropy in untwinned high-Tc_c superconductors

Using a generalized RPA-type theory we calculate the in-plane anisotropy of the magnetic excitations in hole-doped high-$T_c$ superconductors. Extending our earlier Fermi-liquid based studies on the resonance peak by inclusion of orthorhombicity we still find two-dimensional spin excitations, however, being strongly anisotropic. This reflects the underlying anisotropy of the hopping matrix elements and of the resultant superconducting gap function. We compare our calculations with new experimental data on {\it fully untwinned} ${YBa}_2{Cu}_3{O}_{6.85}$ and find good agreement. Our results are in contrast to earlier interpretations on the in-plane anisotropy in terms of stripes (H. Mook {\it et al.}, Nature {\bf 404}, 729 (2000)), but reveal a conventional solution to this important problem.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Theory for ultrafast nonequilibrium dynamics in d-wave superconductors

We use density-matrix theory to calculate the ultrafast dynamics of unconventional superconductors from a microscopic viewpoint. We calculate the time evolution of the optical conductivity as well as pump-probe spectra for a d-wave order parameter. Three regimes can be distinguished in the spectra. The Drude response at low photon energies is the only one of those which has been measured experimentally so far. At higher energies, we predict two more regimes: the pair-breaking peak, which is reduced as Cooper-pairs are broken up by the exciting pulse; and a suppression above the pair-breaking peak due to nonequilibrium quasiparticles. Furthermore, we consider the influence of the electron-phonon coupling, and derive rate equations which have been widely used so far.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Electronic Raman response in anisotropic metals

Using a generalized response theory we derive the electronic Raman response function for metals with anisotropic relaxation rates. The calculations account for the long--range Coulomb interaction and treat the collision operator within a charge conserving relaxation time approximation. We extend earlier treatments to finite wavenumbers ($|{\bf q}|\ll k_{\rm F}$) and incorporate inelastic electron--electron scattering besides elastic impurity scattering. Moreover we generalize the Lindhard density response function to the Raman case. Numerical results for the quasiparticle scattering rate and the Raman response function for cuprate superconductors are presented.Comment: 5 pages, 4figures. accepted in PRB (Brief Report), in pres