Raman spectra of SDW superconductors

Abstract

We report the calculation of the phonon response of the coexistent spin density wave (SDW) and superconducting (SC) state and predict the observation of SC gap in the Raman spectra of rare-earth nickel borocarbide superconductors. The SDW state normally does not couple to the lattice and hence, the phonons in the system are not expected to be affected by the SDW state. But there is a possibility of observing SC gap mode in the Raman spectra of a SDW superconductor due to the coupling of the SC gap excitation to the Raman active phonons in the system via the electron–phonon (e–p) interaction. A theoretical model is used for the coexistent phase and electron–phonon interaction. Phonon Green’s function is calculated by Zubarev’s technique and the phonon self-energy due to e–p interaction which is given by electron density response function in the coexistent state corresponding to the SDW wave vector q=Q is evaluated. The results so obtained exhibit agreement with the experimental observations.