Muon spin rotation measurements of heterogeneous field response in overdoped La2-xSrxCuO4

Transverse-field muon spin rotation measurements of overdoped La{sub 2-x}Sr{sub x}CuO{sub 4} reveal a large broadening of the local magnetic field distribution in response to applied field, persisting to high temperatures. The field response is approximately Curie-Weiss-like in temperature and is largest for the highest doping investigated. Such behavior is contrary to the canonical Fermi-liquid picture commonly associated with the overdoped cuprates and implies extensive heterogeneity in this region of the phase diagram. A possible explanation for the result lies in regions of staggered magnetization about dopant cations, analogous to what is argued to exist in underdoped systems.