Polar Kerr Effect Measurements of YBa2Cu3O6+x: Evidence for Broken Symmetry Near the Pseudogap Temperature

Abstract

Polar Kerr effect in the high-Tc superconductor \YBCO was measured at zero magnetic field with high precision using a cyogenic Sagnac fiber interferometer. We observed non-zero Kerr rotations of order $\sim 1 μ$rad appearing near the pseudogap temperature $T^*$, and marking what appears to be a true phase transition. Anomalous magnetic behavior in magnetic-field training of the effect suggests that time reversal symmetry is already broken above room temperature.

4 pages, 5 figures, submitting to PRL