Stripe formation: A quantum critical point for cuprate superconductors

Abstract

We discuss the effects of a quantum critical point located nearby optimum doping and related to local charge segregation (stripe phase). The fluctuations in the critical region produce at the same time a strong pairing mechanism and a non-Fermi liquid behavior in the normal phase above the superconducting critical temperature. Superconductivity is a stabilizing mechanism against charge ordering, i.e. the incommensurate charge density wave quantum critical point is unstable with respect to superconductivity. A complete scenario for the cuprates is presented.Comment: Proceedings of the Cape Cod Conference on "Spectroscopies in Novel Superconductors, SNS 97", to appear on J. Phys. and Chem. of Solid