C-axis optical conductivity from the Yang-Rice-Zhang model of the underdoped cuprates

Abstract

The c-axis optical response of the underdoped cuprates is qualitatively different from its in-plane counterpart. The features of the pseudogap show themselves more prominently in the c-axis than in-plane. We compute both the c-axis and in-plane optical conductivity using the Yang-Rice-Zhang model of the underdoped cuprates. This model combined with coherent interlayer tunnelling is enough to explain the qualitative differences between the in-plane and c-axis data. We show how pseudogap features manifest themselves in the infrared and microwave conductivity within this model.