Coexisting pseudo-gap and superconducting gap in the high-Tc superconductor La2-xSrxCuO4

Abstract

Relationship between the superconducting gap and the pseudogap has been the subject of controversies. In order to clarify this issue, we have studied the superconducting gap and pseudogap of the high-Tc superconductor La2-xSrxCuO4 (x=0.10, 0.14) by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). Through the analysis of the ARPES spectra above and below Tc, we have identified a superconducting coherence peak even in the anti-nodal region on top of the pseudogap of a larger energy scale. The superconducting peak energy nearly follows the pure d-wave form. The d-wave order parameter \Delta_0 [defined by \Delta(k)=\Delta_0(cos(kxa)-cos(kya)) ] for x=0.10 and 0.14 are nearly the same, \Delta_0 ~ 12-14 meV, leading to strong coupling 2\Delta_0/kB Tc ~ 10. The present result indicates that the pseudogap and the superconducting gap are distinct phenomena and can be described by the "two-gap" scenario.