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Title: c-axis infrared conductivity of a d{sub x{sup 2}{minus}y{sup 2}}-wave superconductor with impurity and spin-fluctuation scattering

Journal Article · · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611 (United States)
  2. Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6032 (United States)
  3. Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-9530 (United States)

Results of a calculation of the c-axis infrared conductivity {sigma}{sub c} for a d{sub x{sup 2}{minus}y{sup 2}}-wave superconductor, including both elastic impurity and inelastic spin-fluctuation scattering are presented and compared with the ab-plane conductivity {sigma}{sub ab} in the same model. In this model, the interlayer c-axis coupling is taken to be weak and diffusive. While in clean systems, inelastic scattering leads to a peak at {omega}=4{Delta}{sub 0} in {sigma}{sub ab} for T{lt}T{sub c}, it has little effect on the corresponding {sigma}{sub c}, which exhibits structure only at {omega}{approx_equal}2{Delta}{sub 0} and is directly related to the single-particle density of states N({omega}). The c-axis penetration depth {lambda}{sub c} in the same model is predicted to vary as T{sup 3} at low temperatures in clean samples. We discuss recent optical experiments on the cuprates and compare with these predictions. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-96OR22464
OSTI ID:
565309
Journal Information:
Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter, Vol. 55, Issue 18; Other Information: PBD: May 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English