Differentiation of site-specific symmetry breaking orders in Y1−xPrxBa2Cu3O6+y

Abstract Solid matter is classified through symmetry of ordering phenomena. Experimentally, this approach is straightforward, except when distinct orderings occur with identical or almost identical symmetry breaking. Here we show that the cuprate system Y 1− x Pr x Ba 2 Cu 3 O 6+ y hosts two distinct orderings with almost identical translational symmetry breaking. Only when applying site-sensitive resonant elastic x-ray scattering, charge ordering can be conclusively differentiated from a super-lattice structure. These two orderings manifest at different atomic sites and display different temperature dependence. Differentiating these orders provides an important clue to the anomalous behavior of PrBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 within the 123-series of high-temperature superconductors. The superstructure symmetry breaking at the Pr-site should be included into future models of the unusual insulating ground state of PrBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 .