Symmetry of the superconducting gap in $HgBa_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{6+\delta}$ single crystals from electronic Raman scattering

TL;DR

This study reports pure electronic Raman spectra of optimally doped HgBa2CaCu2O6+δ single crystals, revealing a superconducting gap symmetry consistent with a d_xy form, differing from previous Bi-based cuprate data.

Contribution

First measurement of pure electronic Raman spectra in HgBa2CaCu2O6+δ single crystals, indicating a d_xy superconducting gap symmetry.

Findings

Spectra show no phonon structures, only electronic continuum.

Data suggest a d_xy gap symmetry with minima along [100] and [010].

Results differ from previous Bi-based cuprate spectra.

Abstract

Pure electronic Raman spectra with no phonon structures superimposed to the electronic continuum, are reported for the first time, in optimally doped $HgBa_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{6+\delta } $ single crystals $(T_{c }=126 $ K). Our low temperature spectra (15 K) for the $A_{1g}$, $B_{1g} $ and $B_{2g} $ symmetries exhibit striking differences with previous data in $Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8+\delta }. $ The shape of the spectra for the various symmetries cannot be fitted by Devereaux's $d_{x^{2}-y^{2}} $ calculations, but strongly suggests a $d_{x y } $ gap, with its minima in the [100] and [010] directions.