Coexistence of, and Competition between, Superconductivity and Charge-Stripe Order inLa1.6−xNd0.4SrxCuO4

Abstract

Previously we have presented evidence for stripe order of holes and spins in ${\mathrm{La}}_{1.6\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Nd}}_{0.4}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{x}{\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$ with $x\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}0.12$. Here we show, via neutron diffraction measurements of magnetic scattering, that similar order occurs in crystals with $x\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}0.15$ and $0.20$. Zero-field-cooled magnetization measurements show that all three compositions are also superconducting, with the superconducting transition temperature increasing as the low-temperature staggered magnetization decreases. These results directly demonstrate an intimate connection between stripe correlations and superconductivity.