Differentiation of site-specific symmetry breaking orders in Y1−xPrxBa2Cu3O6+y
Journal article, 2026
Solid matter is classified through symmetry of ordering phenomena. Experimentally, this approach is straightforward, except when distinct orderings occur with identical or almost identical symmetry breaking. Here we show that the cuprate system Y1−xPrxBa2Cu3O6+y hosts two distinct orderings with almost identical translational symmetry breaking. Only when applying site-sensitive resonant elastic x-ray scattering, charge ordering can be conclusively differentiated from a super-lattice structure. These two orderings manifest at different atomic sites and display different temperature dependence. Differentiating these orders provides an important clue to the anomalous behavior of PrBa2Cu3O7 within the 123-series of high-temperature superconductors. The superstructure symmetry breaking at the Pr-site should be included into future models of the unusual insulating ground state of PrBa2Cu3O7.
Author
L. Martinelli
University of Zürich
Sophie Rüdiger
University of Zürich
I. Biało
University of Zürich
Jens Oppliger
University of Zürich
Fernando Igoa Saldaña
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
Martin von Zimmermann
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
Eugen Weschke
Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres
Riccardo Arpaia
Universita Ca' Foscari Venezia
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics
J. Chang
University of Zürich
Nature Communications
2041-1723 (ISSN) 20411723 (eISSN)
Vol. 17 1 5837Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Condensed Matter Physics
Infrastructure
Myfab (incl. Nanofabrication Laboratory)
DOI
10.1038/s41467-026-72446-0
PubMed
42056130