Collective Modes and Electronic Raman Scattering in the Cuprates

Abstract

While the low frequency electronic Raman response in the superconducting state of the cuprates can be largely understood in terms of a d-wave energy gap, a long standing problem has been an explanation for the spectra observed in A_{1g} polarization orientations. We present calculations which suggest that the peak position of the observed A_{1g} spectra is due to a collective spin fluctuation mode.