SU(4) model of high-temperature superconductivity and antiferromagnetism -art. no. 134516

We present an SU(4) model of high-temperature superconductivity having many similarities to dynamical symmetries known to play an important role in mi croscopic nuclear structure physics and in elementary particle physics. Ana lytical solutions in three dynamical symmetry limits of this model are foun d: an SO(4) limit associated with antiferromagnetic order; an SU(2)xSO(3) l imit that may be interpreted as a d-wave pairing condensate; and an SO(5) L imit that may be interpreted as a doorway state between the antiferromagnet ic order and the superconducting order. The model suggests a phase diagram in qualitative agreement with that observed in the cuprate superconductors. The relationship between the present model and the SO(5) unification of su perconductivity and antiferromagnetic order proposed by Zhang is discussed.