Low-energy spin dynamics and critical hole concentrations in La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ ($0.07leq x leq 0.2$) revealed by $^{139}$La and $^{63}$Cu nuclear magnetic resonance


Abstract in English

We report a comprehensive $^{139}$La and $^{63}$Cu nuclear magnetic resonance study on La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ ($0.07leq x leq 0.2$) single crystals. The $^{139}$La spin-lattice relaxation rate $^{139}T_1^{-1}$ is drastically influenced by Sr doping $x$ at low temperatures. A detailed field dependence of $^{139}T_1^{-1}$ at $x=1/8$ suggests that charge ordering induces the critical slowing down of spin fluctuations toward glassy spin order and competes with superconductivity. On the other hand, the $^{63}$Cu relaxation rate $^{63}T_1^{-1}$ is well described by a Curie-Weiss law at high temperatures, yielding the Curie-Weiss temperature $Theta$ as a function of doping. $Theta$ changes sharply through a critical hole concentration $x_csim 0.09$. $x_c$ appears to correspond to the delocalization limit of doped holes, above which the bulk nature of superconductivity is established.

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