Effects of c-axis Hopping in the Interlayer Tunneling Model of High-Tc Layered Cuprates

Abstract

We consider the interlayer pair-tunneling model for layered cuprates, including an effective single particle hopping along the c-axis. A phenomenological suppression of the c-axis hopping matrix element, by the pseudogap in cuprate superconductors, is incorporated. At optimal doping, quantities characteristic to the superconducting state, such as the transition temperature and the superconducting gap are calculated. Results from our calculations are consistent with the experimental observations with the noteworthy point that, the superconducting gap as a function of temperature shows excellent match to the experimental data. Predictions within the model, regarding T_c variation with interlayer coupling, are natural outcomes which could be tested further.