Interpretation of anomalous normal state optical conductivity of La–Sr–CuO cuprates Original Research Article

The observed frequency dependent optical response of hole doped cuprate La1.85Sr0.15CuO4 superconductors, has been theoretically analysed. Starting from an effective two-dimensional (2D) interaction potential for superlattice of hole doped cuprates treated as a layered electron gas, the spectral function is formulated. Calculations of the optical conductivity σ(ω) have been made within the two-component scheme: one is the coherent Drude carriers responsible for superconductivity and the other is incoherent motion of carriers from one site to other leads to a pairing between Drude carriers. The approach accounts for the anomalies reported (frequency dependence of optical conductivity) in the optical measurements for the normal state. Estimating the effective mass from specific heat measurement and ε∞ from band structure calculations for the low-energy charge density waves, the model has only one free parameter, the relaxation rate. The frequency dependent relaxation rates are expressed in terms of memory functions, and the coherent Drude carriers from the effective interaction potential lead to a sharp peak at zero frequency and a long tail at higher frequencies, i.e. in the infrared (IR) region. However, the hopping of carriers from one site to other (incoherent motion of doped carriers) yields a peak value in the optical conductivity centred at mid-IR (MIR) region. We find that both the Drude and hopping carriers in the superlattice of cuprates will contribute to the optical process of conduction in the CuO2 planes and shows similar results on optical conductivity in the MIR as well as IR frequency regions as those revealed from experiments.