Induced local spin-singlet amplitude and pseudogap in high $T_{c}$ cuprates

Abstract

In this paper we show that local spin-singlet amplitude with d-wave symmetry, $<|\Delta_{d}(0)|^{2}>$, can be induced by short-range spin correlations even in the absence of pairing interactions. Fluctuation theory is formulated to make connection between pseudogap temperature $T^{*}$, pseudogap size $\Delta_{pg}$ and $<|\Delta_{d}(0)|^{2}>$. In the present scenario for the pseudogap, the normal state pseudogap is caused by the induced local spin-singlet amplitude due to short-range spin correlations, which compete in the low energy sector with superconducting correlations to make $T_{c}$ go to zero near half-filling. Calculated $T^{*}$ falls from a high value onto the $T_{c}$ line and closely follows mean-field N\'{e}el temperature $T_{N}^{MF}$. The calculated $\Delta_{pg}$ is in good agreement with experimental results. We propose an experiment in which the present scenario can be critically tested.