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Imaging the granular structure of high-Tc superconductivity in underdoped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ

Author

Listed:
  • K. M. Lang

    (University of California)

  • V. Madhavan

    (University of California)

  • J. E. Hoffman

    (University of California)

  • E. W. Hudson

    (University of California
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • H. Eisaki

    (University of Tokyo
    Stanford University)

  • S. Uchida

    (University of Tokyo)

  • J. C. Davis

    (University of California
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

Abstract

Granular superconductivity occurs when microscopic superconducting grains are separated by non-superconducting regions; Josephson tunnelling between the grains establishes the macroscopic superconducting state1. Although crystals of the copper oxide high-transition-temperature (high-Tc) superconductors are not granular in a structural sense, theory suggests that at low levels of hole doping the holes can become concentrated at certain locations resulting in hole-rich superconducting domains2,3,4,5. Granular superconductivity arising from tunnelling between such domains would represent a new view of the underdoped copper oxide superconductors. Here we report scanning tunnelling microscope studies of underdoped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ that reveal an apparent segregation of the electronic structure into superconducting domains that are ∼3 nm in size (and local energy gap 50 ± 2.5 meV. These observations suggest that underdoped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ is a mixture of two different short-range electronic orders with the long-range characteristics of a granular superconductor.

Suggested Citation

  • K. M. Lang & V. Madhavan & J. E. Hoffman & E. W. Hudson & H. Eisaki & S. Uchida & J. C. Davis, 2002. "Imaging the granular structure of high-Tc superconductivity in underdoped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ," Nature, Nature, vol. 415(6870), pages 412-416, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:415:y:2002:i:6870:d:10.1038_415412a
    DOI: 10.1038/415412a
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