Observation of emergent scaling of spin–charge correlations at the onset of the pseudogap
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: In strongly correlated materials, interacting electrons are entangled and form collective quantum states, resulting in rich low-temperature phase diagrams. Notable examples include cuprate superconductors, in which superconductivity emerges at low doping out of an unusual "pseudogap" metallic state above the critical temperature. The Fermi-Hubbard model, describing a wide range of phenomena associated with strong electron correlations, still offers major computational challenges despite its simple formulation. In this context, ultracold atoms quantum simulators have provided invaluable insights into the microscopic nature of correlated quantum states. Here, we use a quantum gas microscope Fermi-Hubbard simulator to explore a wide range of dopings and temperatures in a regime where a pseudogap is known to develop. By measuring multipoint correlation functions up to fifth order, we uncover a universal scaling behavior in magnetic and higher-order spin-charge correlations characterized by a doping-dependent temperature scale. Accurate comparisons with determinant Quantum Monte Carlo and Minimally Entangled Typical Thermal States simulations confirm that this temperature scale is comparable to the pseudogap temperature [Formula: see text]. Our quantitative findings reveal a qualitative behavior of magnetic properties and spin-charge correlations in an emergent pseudogap and pave the way toward the exploration of charge pairing and collective phenomena expected at lower temperatures.
Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paris-Saclay, Institut d’Optique Graduate School, Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Laboratoire Charles Fabry, Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Lanzhou University, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, University of Regensburg, University of Geneva, École Polytechnique, Collège de France, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Centre de Physique Théorique, Centre de Physique Théorique, Flatiron Institute, University of Strathclyde, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Funders: National Science Foundation, Flatiron Health, European Commission, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, H2020 European Research Council
Awards: Simulating ultracold correlated quantum matter: New microscopic paradigms, G1527366444, G1750626284, G1768993395, G1848969253, G1889978188, Programmable Atomic Large-scale Quantum Simulation 2 - SGA1, G3398237449, G434337789, G4689434848, G4710139657, G5590046722, G5987792135, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, G7171623445, SuMaC: Supraleitung und Magnetische Korrelationen, EXC 2111: Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST), G8908719260, G8959349008
OpenAlex ID: W4405783260