Superconductivity in the two-dimensional t-J model

Using computational techniques, it is shown that pairing is a robust property of hole doped antiferromagnetic (AF) insulators. In one dimension (1D) and for two-leg ladder systems, a BCS-like variational wave function with long-bond spin-singlets and a Jastrow factor provides an accurate representation of the ground state of the t-J model, even though strong quantum fluctuations destroy the off-diagonal superconducting (SC) long-range order in this case. However, in two dimensions (2D) it is argued – and numerically confirmed using several techniques, especially quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) – that quantum fluctuations are not strong enough to suppress superconductivity.