Stripe Order — Charge & Spin Interplay in Cuprates

Unidirectional CDW (period 4a) + SDW (period 8a) competing with d-wave superconductivity

Stripe order in cuprates (La₁.₆₋ₓNd₀.₄SrₓCuO₄ and related) consists of unidirectional charge density waves (CDW) with period 4a and spin density waves (SDW) with period 8a — the charge period is half the spin period. Stripes compete with d-wave SC: maximum Tc occurs near stripe instability where charge fluctuations are strongest (intertwined orders scenario).