Random fields from quenched disorder in an archetype for correlated electrons: The parallel spin stripe phase of La1.6−xNd0.4SrxCuO4 at the 1/8 anomaly

The parallel stripe phase is remarkable both in its own right, and in relation to the other phases with which it coexists. Its inhomogeneous nature makes such states susceptible to random fields from quenched magnetic vacancies. We argue this is the case by introducing low concentrations of nonmagnetic Zn impurities (0%–10%) into La1.6−xNd0.4SrxCuO4 (Nd-LSCO) with x=0.125 in single-crystal form, well below the percolation threshold of ∼41% for …