Distinguishing models for the pseudo-gap in cuprate superconductors by probing the spatial distribution of impurity states

We argue that the spatial distribution of resonant impurity states in underdoped high-T-c superconductors serves as a probe for distinguishing different theoretical models for the pseudogap state. Superconducting pairing fluctuations are characterized by off-diagonal short-range order which distinguishes them from other possible instabilities that could give rise to the pseudogap phenomena. Due to the mixture of particle and hole states in a superconductor an impurity resonant state is composed of both a particle and a hole-like component. On the contrary a state with a gap induced by a particle-hole instability, like a d-density wave (DDW) or spin-density wave (SDW), exhibits no off-diagonal short-range order and consequently a resonant impurity state consists of only one either particle or hole-like component. Furthermore, a charge-spin separated state shows no resonance state at all inside the gap region.