Theory of the pseudogap in high-Tcssuperconductors

Abstract

Several different experimental techniques have confirmed the existence of a 'pseudogap' in normal high-${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{c}}$ superconductors with low hole densities. Previous quasispin Monte Carlo simulations by the authors have shown that a planar one-band model of the oxygen lattice, with a local pairing interaction, produces uncorrelated bound hole pairs above the superconducting transition temperature when the hole densities are low. Results of normal-state simulations are reported in this work. They provide evidence for the identification of the binding energy of intraplanar uncorrelated hole pairs with the observed pseudogap.