Origin of Weak Pseudogap Behaviors in Na_0.35CoO₂: Absence of Small Hole Pockets

Abstract

We analyze the ``normal electronic states'' of Na_{0.35}CoO_2 based on the effective d-p model with full d-orbital freedom using the fluctuation-exchange (FLEX) approximation. They sensitively depend on the topology of the Fermi surfaces, which changes as the crystalline electric splitting (CES) due to the trigonal deformation. We succeed in reproducing the weak pseudo-gap behaviors in the density of states (DOS) and in the uniform magnetic susceptibility below 300K, assuming that six small hole-pockets predicted by LDA band calculations are absent. When they exist, on the contrary, then ``anti-pseudo-gap behaviors'' should inevitably appear. Thus, the present study strongly supports the absence of the small hole-pockets in Na_{0.35}CoO_2, as reported by recent ARPES measurements. A large Fermi surface around the \Gamma-point would account for the superconductivity in water-intercalated samples.