Real and marginal isotope effects in cuprate superconductors

TL;DR

This paper reviews isotope effects in cuprate superconductors, emphasizing the importance of meticulous sample preparation to distinguish genuine effects that highlight the role of lattice vibrations in superconductivity.

Contribution

It underscores the critical role of careful experimental procedures in accurately identifying true isotope effects in cuprates.

Findings

Real isotope effects are substantial, indicating lattice vibrational significance.

Careful sample preparation is essential for reliable isotope effect data.

Marginal effects are sensitive to experimental conditions.

Abstract

We critically review recent and earlier results on isotope effects in cuprate superconductors and emphasize that the sample preparation and the isotope exchange and back exchange are crucial in understanding and interpreting the data. Only extremely careful preparation techniques yield reliable results and permit differentiation between real isotope effects and marginal ones. The former are substantial and highlight the lattice vibrational importance in cuprate superconductors.