Extracting the Bosonic Spectra of Pb Using Superconducting-Tip STS and Comparing it with the Cuprates

ORAL

Abstract

In high-temperature superconductors the meaning of the common feature labeled ``peak-dip-hump'' is still a point of great debate. In terms of scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) this refers to the shape of satellite features that occur outside the coherence peaks in the $dI/dV$ spectra. There are many conflicting interpretations and labeling schemes for this feature in both the hole- and electron-doped cuprates. The path to resolving this confusion is to study a well-understood BCS superconductor to better observe the way that the STM measures bosonic information. Utilizing the ultra-low electronic noise of our home-built low-temperature STM, and utilizing a superconducting tip for increased spectral resolution, we recreate the original McMillan and Rowell S-I-S junction\footnote{W. L. McMillan and J. M. Rowell Phys. Rev. Lett., \textbf{14}, 108-112 (1965)} with the STM equivalent (S-Vacuum-S). This method provides very high energy resolution for both the filled and empty electronic states in both the superconducting and normal state. We compare this data to first-principle Eliashberg calculations and relate this data to ``peak-dip-hump'' in the high T$_c$ case.

Authors

  • Francis Niestemski

    • Stanford University
  • S. Johnston

    • IFW Dresden
  • A.W. Contryman

    • Stanford University
  • C.D. Camp

    • Stanford University
  • T.P. Devereaux

    • Stanford University
  • H.C. Manoharan

    • Stanford University