Theory of nuclear spin-lattice relaxation in YBa2Cu3O7 - art. no. 132506

Within the framework of the t-J model, we have calculated the temperature d ependence of the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate, 1/T-1, of Cu-63, O-1 7, and Y-89 in the normal state of the superconductor YBa2Cu3O7. The main c ontribution to the Cu rate arises from strong short-range antiferromagnetic correlations between copper spins; the O-17 and Y-89 rates are dominated b y spin fluctuations of longer wavelength. The theory is able to reproduce t he main features of the temperature dependence of 1/T-1 as observed experim entally.