Kim, Eun-AhLawler, Michael J.Oreto, PaulSachdev, SubirFradkin, EduardoKivelson, Steven A.2012-01-182008Kim, Eun-Ah, Michael J. Lawler, Paul Oreto, Subir Sachdev, Eduardo Fradkin, and Steven A. Kivelson. 2008. Theory of the nodal nematic quantum phase transition in superconductors. Physical Review B 77(18): 184514.1550-235X1098-0121http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:7784445We study the character of an Ising nematic quantum phase transition deep inside a \(d\)-wave superconducting state with nodal quasiparticles in a two-dimensional tetragonal crystal. We find that, within a \(1∕N\) expansion, the transition is continuous. To leading order in \(1∕N\), quantum fluctuations enhance the dispersion anisotropy of the nodal excitations and cause strong scattering, which critically broadens the quasiparticle (qp) peaks in the spectral function, except in a narrow wedge in momentum space near the Fermi surface where the qps remain sharp. We also consider the possible existence of a nematic glass phase in the presence of weak disorder. Some possible implications for cuprate physics are also discussed.en-USstrongly correlated electronssuperconductivityJournal Article2012-01-1810.1103/PhysRevB.77.184514