Thermodynamic transitions in inhomogeneous cuprate superconductors

2006/09/13 by Loram, J. W., Tallon, J. L.
#FOS: Physical sciences #Superconductivity (cond-mat.supr-con)

paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.cond-mat/0609305

Abstract

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy studies on Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ suggest the presence of electronic inhomogeneity with a large spatial variation in gap size. Andersen \it et al have modelled this variation by assuming a spatially-varying pairing interaction. We show that their calculated specific heat is incompatible with the experimental data which exhibit narrow transitions. This calls into question the now-common assumption of gap and pairing inhomogeneity.

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