Bulk charge density wave and electron-phonon coupling in superconducting copper oxychlorides

Abstract

Bulk charge density waves are now reported in nearly all high-temperature superconducting cuprates, with the noticeable exception of one particular family: the copper oxychlorides. Here, we used resonant inelastic x-ray scattering to reveal a bulk charge density waves in these materials. Combining resonant inelastic x-ray scattering with nonresonant inelastic x-ray scattering, we investigate the interplay between the lattice excitations and the charge density wave, and evidence the phonon anomalies of the Cu-O bond-stretching mode at the charge density wave wave vector. We propose that such electron-phonon anomalies occur in the presence of dispersive charge excitations emanating from the charge density wave and interacting with the Cu-O bond-stretching phonon. Our results pave the way for future studies, combining both bulk and surface probes, to investigate the static and dynamical properties of the charge density wave in the copper oxychloride family.