What does charge order have to do with the mechanism of high temperature superconductivity?
Charge order clearly “competes” with superconductivity under many circumstances. It always tends to suppress the superfluid stiffness of the superconducting state by localizing electrons that might otherwise participate in the superconducting condensate. Thus, where the superconducting T$_{c}$ is determined by phase fluctuations, charge order suppresses T$_{c}$. However, there is suggestive experimental and theoretical evidence that charge ordering of just the right sort can enhance pairing, and hence “assist” superconductivity. Some of this evidence will be presented. To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2007.MAR.D9.
