Universal T-linear resistivity and Planckian dissipation in overdoped cuprates

• DOI: 10.1038/s41567-018-0334-2
• Publication Date: 2018-10-29T13:37:39Z
• Authors: A. Legros; S. Benhabib; W. Tabis; F. Laliberté; M. Dion; M. Lizaire; B. Vignolle; D. Vignolles; H. Raffy; Z. Z. Li; P. Auban-Senzier; N. Doiron-Leyraud; P. Fournier; D. Colson; L. Taillefer; C. Proust
• Keywords: [PHYS.COND.CM-S]Physics [physics]/Condensed Matter [cond-mat]/Superconductivity [cond-mat.supr-con]; Superconductivity (cond-mat.supr-con); Condensed Matter - Superconductivity; 0103 physical sciences; 500; FOS: Physical sciences; [PHYS.COND.CM-SCE]Physics [physics]/Condensed Matter [cond-mat]/Strongly Correlated Electrons [cond-mat.str-el]; 530; 01 natural sciences

The perfectly linear temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity observed as $T \rightarrow$ 0 in a variety of metals close to a quantum critical point is a major puzzle of condensed matter physics . Here we show that $T$-linear resistivity as $T \rightarrow$ 0 is a generic property of cuprates, associated with a universal scattering rate. We measured the low-temperature resistivity of the bi-layer cuprate Bi2212 and found that it exhibits a $T$-linear dependence with the same slope as in the single-layer cuprates Bi2201, Nd-LSCO and LSCO, despite their very different Fermi surfaces and structural, superconducting and magnetic properties. We then show that the $T$-linear coefficient (per CuO$_2$ plane), $A_1$, is given by the universal relation $A_1 T_F = h / 2e^2$, where $e$ is the electron charge, $h$ is the Planck constant and $T_F$ is the Fermi temperature. This relation, obtained by assuming that the scattering rate 1 / $��$ of charge carriers reaches the Planckian limit whereby $\hbar / ��= k_B T$, works not only for hole-doped cuprates but also for electron-doped cuprates despite the different nature of their quantum critical point and strength of their electron correlations.<br/>main + SI<br/>