Spin-Phonon Coupling in High-T_c Copper Oxides

Abstract

Band calculations on HgBa$_2$CuO$_4$ and La$_{(2-x)}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ with phonon and spin-waves within the CuO planes show that partial gaps are created at various energies depending on wavelengths. Spin and phonon gaps appear at different energies when the modulations are along [1,1,0], while they are at the same energy for modulations along [1,0,0]. It is shown that the ability to form gaps and antiferromagnetic waves is correlated with the strength of the interaction parameter $λ_{sf}$ for spin fluctuations. Many unusual properties of the high-T$_C$ oxides can be understood from spin-phonon coupling.