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Abstract An unidentified quantum fluid designated the pseudogap (PG) phase is produced by electron-density depletion in the CuO 2 antiferromagnetic insulator. Current theories suggest that the PG phase may be a pair density wave (PDW) state characterized by a spatially modulating density of electron pairs. Such a state should exhibit a periodically modulating energy gap $${\Delta }_{{{{{{\rm{P}}}}}}}({{{{{\boldsymbol{r}}}}}})$$ Δ P ( r ) in real-space, and a characteristic quasiparticle scattering interference (QPI) signature $${\Lambda }_{{{{{{\rm{P}}}}}}}({{{{{\boldsymbol{q}}}}}})$$ Λ P ( q ) in wavevector space. By studying strongly underdoped Bi 2 Sr 2 CaDyCu 2 O 8 at hole-density ~0.08 in the superconductive phase, we detect the 8 a 0 -periodic $${\Delta }_{{{{{{\rm{P}}}}}}}({{{{{\boldsymbol{r}}}}}})$$ Δ P ( r ) modulations signifying a PDW coexisting with superconductivity. Then, by visualizing the temperature dependence of this electronic structure from the superconducting into the pseudogap phase, we find the evolution of the scattering interference signature $$\Lambda ({{{{{\boldsymbol{q}}}}}})$$ Λ ( q ) that is predicted specifically for the temperature dependence of an 8 a 0 -periodic PDW. These observations are consistent with theory for the transition from a PDW state coexisting with d -wave superconductivity to a pure PDW state in the Bi 2 Sr 2 CaDyCu 2 O 8 pseudogap phase.