Appearance of New Energy Gap and Periodic Local Density-of-States Modulation in $Bi_2 Sr_{1.6} La_{0.4} CuO_{6+\delta}$

TL;DR

This study reveals a new energy gap and a periodic modulation in the local density of states in optimally doped Bi-2201, observed via scanning tunneling spectroscopy at low temperature, indicating complex electronic structures in high-temperature superconductors.

Contribution

It reports the discovery of a new energy gap and a spatially modulated density-of-states in Bi-2201, coexisting with the superconducting gap, advancing understanding of electronic inhomogeneity in cuprates.

Findings

Observation of a new ~10 meV energy gap.

Detection of a periodic density-of-states modulation aligned with Cu-O bonds.

Coexistence of the new gap with the superconducting gap.

Abstract

The spatial variation of the local density of states in optimally doped Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{1.6}$La$_{0.4}$CuO$_{6+\delta}$ (superconducting transition temperature is 34 K) is studied by scanning tunneling spectroscopy at 4.2 K in zero magnetic field. Two-dimensional density-of-states modulation aligned with the Cu-O-Cu bond with a periodicity of about five lattice constants is observed. It is found that this modulation accompanies the appearance of a new energy gap of approximately 10 meV, whose gap edge peak is spatially modulated in intensity. This gap coexists with the superconducting gap, the value of which ranges from 10 meV to 60 meV.