NMR evidence for Friedel-like oscillations in the CuO chains of ortho-II YBa2Cu3O6.5

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of CuO chains of detwinned ortho-II YBa2Cu3O6.5 (YBCO6.5) single crystals reveal unusual and remarkable properties. The chain Cu resonance broadens significantly, but gradually, on cooling from room temperature. The line shape and its temperature dependence are substantially different from that of a conventional spin/charge density wave (S/CDW) phase transition. Instead, the line broadening is attributed to small amplitude static spin and charge density oscillations with spatially varying amplitudes connected with the ends of the finite length chains. The influence of this CuO chain phenomenon is also clearly manifested in the plane Cu NMR.