Impurity effect on superconducting gap and pseudogap

Co substituted Bi2212 samples of Bi 2.1 Sr 1.9 Ca(Cu 1−x Co x )O 8+ δ ( x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and Tc = 85,71,52,35 K) were prepared, and their electronic density states were characterized by a low temperature STM. The experimental results revealed that superconducting gap-like features were rapidly destroyed, while pseudogap-like features were enhanced with increasing impurities, suggesting that the origin of the pseudogap is different from that of a superconducting gap. We suggested a two phase-like model to explain the behavior of a gap map and a gap distribution function. On the other hand, spatial gap and pseudogap inhomogeneity persisted in all Co concentrations. This indicates that the origin of inhomogeneity is not related to in-plane disorder or impurities.