ON THE UNIVERSAL LINEAR IN-LAYER RESISTIVITY RHO-PARALLEL-TO-INFINITY-T1 OF HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS

Based on the Boltzmann equation an inversion formula for the resistivity ρ{variant} is deduced which for a general coupling between two carrier bands yields, in dimension D, ρ{variant}∝TD-1. While being well known in D=3, this is a new result in D=2. It is then shown that in a 2-band model of strongly anisotropic masses as are found in the cuprate layer structures, the in-layer resistivity follows the law for D=2, ρ{norm of matrix}∝T1, in agreement with the majority of experiments. Exceptions to the linear law and to the 2-band assumption are also discussed. Assuming the spin-flip term of the interaction to be dominant, the spin-flip relaxation time τsf is estimated by using the data on ρ{norm of matrix}·τsf is found to be orders of magnitude shorter than the EPR period thus explaining the complete absence of intrinsic EPR signals in the cuprates. It is also shown that the spin-flip interaction gives rise to pairing, preferentially of the heavier carriers. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.