Abstract

Detailed data on the momentum-resolved temperature dependence of the superconducting gap of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x are presented, complemented by similar data on the intensity of the photoemission superconducting condensate spectral area. The gap anisotropy between the Gamma-(M) over bar and Gamma-X directions increases markedly with increasing temperature, contrary to what happens for conventional anisotropic-gap superconductors, such as lead. Specifically, the size of the superconducting gap along the Gamma-X direction decreases to values indistinguishable from zero at temperatures for which the gap retains virtually full value along the Gamma-(M) over bar direction. These data rule out the simplest type of d-wave order parameter.

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