Charge stripe manipulation of superconducting pairing symmetry transition

Abstract

Abstract Charge stripes have been widely observed in many different types of unconventional superconductors, holding varying periods ( $${{\mathcal{P}}}$$ P ) and intensities. However, a general understanding on the interplay between charge stripes and superconducting properties is still incomplete. Here, using large-scale unbiased numerical simulations on a general inhomogeneous Hubbard model, we discover that the charge-stripe period $${{\mathcal{P}}}$$ P , which is variable in different real material systems, could dictate the pairing symmetries—d wave for $${{\mathcal{P}}}\ge 4,s$$ P ≥ 4 , s and d waves for $${{\mathcal{P}}}\le 3$$ P ≤ 3 . In the latter, tuning hole doping and charge-stripe amplitude can trigger a d-s wave transition and magnetic-correlation shift, where the d-wave state converts to a pairing-density wave state, competing with the s wave. These interesting phenomena arise from an unusual stripe-induced selection rule of pairing symmetries around on-stripe region and within inter-stripe region, giving rise to a critical point of $${{\mathcal{P}}}=3$$ P = 3 for the phase transition. In general, our findings offer important insights into the differences in the superconducting pairing mechanisms across many $${{\mathcal{P}}}$$ P -dependent superconducting systems, highlighting the decisive role of charge stripe.