ELECTRON-LATTICE INTERACTION IN CUPRATES

Experimental studies of local structure by pulsed neutron PDF analysis on manganites and cuprates suggest that these oxides are locally dist orted due to a strong electron-lattice interaction, and charge carrier s organize themselves most likely into a tweed-like state. Measurement s by inelastic neutron scattering as well as calculations on the Hubba rd model show that the electron-lattice interaction is strongest at th e zone boundaries, enhanced by phonon-induced spin-correlations. Such a strong electron-lattice interaction must be the origin of these loca l distortions, and may form the basis for the microscopic mechanism of superconductivity.