Angle-resolved phase-sensitive determination of the in-plane gap symmetry in YBa2Cu3O7−δ

Kirtley, J.R. and Tsuei, C.C. and Ariando and Verwijs, C.J.M. and Harkema, S. and Hilgenkamp, H. (2006) Angle-resolved phase-sensitive determination of the in-plane gap symmetry in YBa2Cu3O7−δ. Nature physics, 2 . pp. 190-194. ISSN 1745-2473

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Abstract:	Understanding the nature of the ground state and its low-lying excitations in the copper oxide superconductors is a prerequisite for determining the origin of high-temperature superconductivity. A superconducting order parameter (that is, the energy gap) with a predominantly dx2-y2 symmetry is well-established. However, various deviations from a pure d-wave pair state, such as the possibility of Cooper pairing with broken time-reversal symmetry or an admixed dx2-y2+s pair state, have been theoretically predicted and actively sought in numerous experimental studies. Here, we present an angle-resolved phase-sensitive technique for accurately determining the in-plane pairing symmetry, and demonstrate this technique in optimally doped YBa2Cu3O7-. We find that the gap along the b-axis (Cu–O chain) direction is at least 20% larger than that along the a-axis direction, and that any imaginary idxy, is or ip component must be smaller than a few per cent of the dx2-y2 component of the gap.
Item Type:	Article
Copyright:	© Nature Publishing Group
Faculty:	Science and Technology (TNW)
Research Group:	Low Temperatures - Biomagnetism (LT)
Link to this item:	http://purl.utwente.nl/publications/74125
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphys215
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