Comment on: Crossover of Charge Fluctuations across the Strange Metal Phase Diagram

Abstract: In a paper by Husain et al. [PRX 9, 041062 (2019)], the two-particle electronic excitations in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x have been studied by Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy in reflection (R-EELS) in the strange metal range between underdoped and overdoped materials. The authors conclude that there are no well defined plasmons. Rather they obtain a momentum-independent continuum which they discuss in terms of holographic theories. In this Comment it is pointed out that the experimental results are in stark contrast to previous EELS in transmission (T-EELS), Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering (RIXS), and optical studies. The differences can be probably explained by an inaccurate momentum scale in the R-EELS experiments. Furthermore, it is shown, that many material specific experimental results from T-EELS, R-EELS, RIXS, and optical spectroscopy can be explained by a more traditional extended Lindhard model. This model describes the energy, the width, and the dispersion of normal and acoustic plasmons in cuprates, as well as the continuum. The latter is explained by electron-hole excitations inside a lifetime broadened conduction band. This continuum is directly related to the scattering rates of the charge carriers, which in turn, by a feed back process, lead to the continuum.