Charge order induced sharp Raman peak in Sr_14Cu_24O_41

Abstract

In the two-leg S=1/2 ladders of Sr_14Cu_24O_41 a modulation of the exchange coupling arises from the charge order within the other structural element, the CuO_2 chains. In general, breaking translational invariance by modulation causes gaps within the dispersion of elementary excitations. We show that the gap induced by the charge order can drastically change the magnetic Raman spectrum leading to the sharp peak observed in Sr_14Cu_24O_41. This sharp Raman line gives insight in the charge-order periodicity and hence in the distribution of carriers. The much broader spectrum of La_6Ca_8Cu_24O$_41 reflects the response of an undoped ladder in the absence of charge order.