Observation of cyclotron resonance and measurement of the hole mass in optimally-doped La_(2-x)Sr_(x)CuO₄

Using time-domain terahertz spectroscopy in pulsed magnetic fields up to 31 T, we measure the terahertz optical conductivity in an optimally-doped thin film of the high temperature superconducting cuprate La$_{1.84}$Sr$_{0.16}$CuO$_4$. We observe systematic changes in the circularly-polarized complex optical conductivity that are consistent with cyclotron absorption of p-type charge carriers characterized by a cyclotron mass of $4.9\pm 0.8$ $m_{\rm e}$, and a scattering rate that increases with magnetic field. These results open the door to studies aimed at characterizing the degree to which electron-electron interactions influence carrier masses in cuprate superconductors.