Hydrostatic-pressure effects on the pseudogap in slightly doped YBa2Cu3O7-δ single crystals

Abstract

The influence of hydrostatic pressure up to P=1.05 GPa on resistivity R, excess conductivity $σ'(T)$ and pseudogap $Δ*(T)$ is studied in slightly doped single crystals of YBa2Cu3O7-$δ (Tc=49.2 K, δ~ 0.5)$. The critical temperature Tc is found to increase with increasing pressure at a rate dTc/dP = 5.1 K/GPa, while R(300)K decreases at a rate d(ln R)/dP = 0.19% 1/GPa. Near Tc, independently on pressure, the $σ'(T)$ is well described by the Aslamasov-Larkin and Hikami-Larkin fluctuation theories, demonstrating a 3D-2D crossover with increase of temperature. The crossover temperature To determines the coherence length along the c-axis $ξc(0) \sim 3.43 A$ at P=0, which is found to decrease with increasing P. At the same time, both, $Δ*$ and the BCS ratio $2Δ*/kTc$ increase with increasing hydrostatic pressure at a rate $d(ln Δ*)/dP= 0.36 1/GPa$, implying an increase of the coupling strength with increasing P. At low temperatures below Tp, the shape of the $Δ*(T)$ curve is found to be almost independent on pressure. At high temperatures, the shape of the $Δ*(T)$ curve changes noticeably with increasing P, suggesting a strong influence of pressure on the lattice dynamics. This unusual behavior is observed for the first time.