title: Theory of the quantum critical fluctuations in cuprate superconductors.
abstract: The statistical mechanics of the time-reversal and inversion symmetry breaking order parameter, possibly observed in the pseudogap region of the phase diagram of the cuprates, can be represented by the Ashkin-Teller model. We add kinetic energy and dissipation to the model for a quantum generalization and show that the spectrum of the quantum-critical fluctuations is of the form postulated in 1989 to give the marginal Fermi-liquid properties. The model solved and the methods devised are likely to be of interest also to other quantum phase transitions.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, University of California, Riverside, California 92507, USA.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aji
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Varma