Low-Temperature Pseudogap Phenomenon: Precursor of High-$T_c$ Superconductivity

Abstract

In this paper, we try to understand the pseudogap phenomenon observed in the cuprate superconductor through a model study. Specifically, we explore the so-called low-temperature pseudogap state by turning off the superconducting off diagonal long range order in an ansatz state for the $t$-$J$ model [New Journal of Physics {\bf 13}, 103039 (2011)]. Besides strong non-Gaussian superconducting fluctuations, the resulting state also exhibits a systematic pseudogap behavior in both spin and charge degrees of freedom, manifested in the uniform spin susceptibility, specific heat, non-Drude resistivity, Nernst effect, as well as the quantum oscillation associated with small Fermi pockets emerging in strong magnetic fields, etc. These anomalous `normal state' properties are found in qualitative consistency with experimental measurements in the cuprates. Such a model study establishes an intrinsic connection between the peculiar pseudogap properties and the non-BCS nature of the superconducting ground state. Critical comparison with other approaches to the doped Mott insulator is also made.