Possible Spatial Correlation of Superconducting and Pseudogap Dynamics in a Bi-based Cuprate
Understanding the interplay between superconductivity and the pseudogap phase is essential for elucidating the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity in cuprates. Here we provide direct spatial evidence that these two states are locally and intrinsically correlated. Using spatially and temporally resolved measurements of photoinduced quasiparticle dynamics in optimally doped Bi$_2$Sr$_{1.7}$La$_{0.3}$CuO$_{6+\delta}$ (La-Bi2201), we reveal micrometer-scale spatial contrasts in the transient reflectivity that arise from local variations in the threshold fluence required to disrupt either the superconducting or pseudogap state. The superconducting response remains spatially uniform, whereas the pseudogap exhibits intrinsic inhomogeneity, yet the spatial variations of their threshold fluences closely track each other, establishing a robust local correlation between the two. These results introduce a bulk-sensitive ultrafast optical methodology for visualizing hidden spatial correlations in correlated materials and provide new benchmarks for understanding the intertwined phases in cuprates.