Neutron diffraction evidence of microscopic charge inhomogeneities in the CuO2 plane of superconducting La2-xSrxCuO4 (0≤x≤0.30)

High-resolution atomic pair distribution functions have been obtained using neutron powder diffraction data from La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4) over the range of doping 0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.30 at 10 K. Despite the average structure getting less orthorhombic, we see a broadening of thr in-plane Cu-O bond distribution as a function of doping up to optimal doping. Thereafter the peak abruptly sharpens. The peak broadening can be well explained by a local microscopic coexistence of doped and undoped material. This suggests a crossover from a charge inhomogeneous state at and below optimal doping to a homogeneous charge stale above optimal doping.