Unambiguous evidence for nearly isotropic s-wave gap in the bulk of optimally electron-doped Nd_{1.85}Ce_{0.15}CuO$_{4-y}

TL;DR

This study provides conclusive bulk-sensitive evidence supporting a nearly isotropic s-wave superconducting gap in optimally electron-doped Nd_{1.85}Ce_{0.15}CuO_{4-y}, challenging the d-wave pairing symmetry hypothesis.

Contribution

It offers a comprehensive numerical analysis of multiple bulk-sensitive measurements, demonstrating their consistency with an s-wave gap symmetry in electron-doped cuprate superconductors.

Findings

Bulk data align with a nearly isotropic s-wave gap

T_{c} independence from residual resistivity rules out d-wave symmetry

Numerical calculations match experimental spectra and effects

Abstract

We address an important issue as to whether bulk-sensitive data of Raman scattering, optical conductivity, magnetic penetration depth, directional point-contact tunneling spectra, and nonmagnetic pair-breaking effect in optimally electron-doped Nd_{1.85}Ce_{0.15}CuO_{4-y} support a nodeless s-wave or d-wave superconducting gap. We numerically calculate Raman intensities, directional point-contact tunneling spectra, and nonmagnetic pair-breaking effect in terms of both s-wave and d-wave gap symmetries. We find that all these bulk-sensitive data are in quantitative agreement with a nearly isotropic s-wave gap. The fact that T_{c} is nearly independent of the residual resistivity rules out any d-wave gap symmetry.