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Oxygen isotope effect in high-temperature oxide superconductors

Journal Article · · Science (Washington, D.C.); (USA)
The effect of oxygen isotope substitution on the superconducting transition temperature, T{sub c}, has been measured for BaBi{sub 0.25}Pb{sub 0.75}O{sub 3} (T{sub c} {approx} 11 K) and La{sub 1.85} Ca{sub 0.15}CuO{sub 4} (T{sub c} {approx} 20 K), and is compared to the shifts observed for La{sub 1.85}Sr{sub 0.15}CuO{sub 4} (T{sub c} {approx} 37 K) and YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} (T{sub c} {approx} 92 K). For all four materials, the transition temperature is shifted lower temperature upon substitution of oxygen-18 for oxygen-16. The observed shifts demonstrate that phonons are involved in the electron-pairing mechanism in these oxide superconductors.
OSTI ID:
5251754
Journal Information:
Science (Washington, D.C.); (USA), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (USA) Vol. 238; ISSN SCIEA; ISSN 0036-8075
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English