• Kapon, I.; Ellis, D.S.; Drachuck, G.; Bazalitski, G.; Weschke, E.; Schierle, E.; Strempfer, J.; Niedermayer, C.; Keren, A.: Opening a nodal gap by fluctuating spin-density wave in lightly doped La2-xSrxCuO4. Physical Review B 95 (2017), p. 104512/1-5

10.1103/PhysRevB.95.104512
Open Access Version

Abstract:
We investigate whether the spin or charge degrees of freedom are responsible for the nodal gap in underdoped cuprates by performing inelastic neutron scattering and x-ray diffraction measurements on La2-xSrxCuO4, which is on the edge of the antiferromagnetic phase. We found that a fluctuating incommensurate spin-density wave (SDW) with a bottom part of an hourglass dispersion exists even in this magnetic sample. The strongest component of these fluctuations diminishes at the same temperature where the nodal gap opens. X-ray scattering measurements on the same crystal show no signature of a charge-density wave (CDW). Therefore, we suggest that the nodal gap in the electronic band of this cuprate opens due to fluctuating SDW with no contribution from CDW.