When viewed at frequencies below about 8 THz (250 cm‐1; 30 meV) the ab‐plane optical conductivity of the cuprate superconductors (in their normal state) is well described by a Drude model. Examples include optimally‐doped YBa2Cu3O7‐δ and Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8; even the underdoped phases have a Drude character to their optical conductivity. A residual Drude‐like normal fluid is seen in the superconducting state in most cases; the scattering rate of this quasiparticle contribution collapses at Tc.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.