PSEUDO-GAP FEATURES OF INTRINSIC TUNNELING IN (HgBr₂)-Bi2212 SINGLE CRYSTALS

Abstract

The c-axis tunneling properties of both pristine Bi2212 and its HgBr 2 intercalate have been measured in the temperature range 4.2-250 K. Lithographically patterned 7-10 unit-cell heigh mesa structures on the surfaces of these single crystals were investigated. Clear SIS-like tunneling curves for current applied in the c-axis direction have been observed. The dynamic conductance d I/ d V(V) shows both sharp peaks corresponding to a superconducting gap edge and a dip feature beyond the gap, followed by a wide maximum, which persists up to a room temperature. Shape of the temperature dependence of the c-axis resistance does not change after the intercalation suggesting that a coupling between CuO 2 -bilayers has little effect on the pseudogap.