Nodal gap behavior of Bi2Sr2−xLnxCuO6+δ (Ln = La, Eu) investigated by specific heat measurements
We performed low-temperature specific heat measurements on slightly underdoped samples of monolayer cuprate superconductors [Formula: see text] (Ln = La, Eu, Ln-Bi2201) under magnetic fields [Formula: see text]. In La-Bi2201, the coefficient [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text]-linear term in the electronic specific heat [Formula: see text] at [Formula: see text] shows [Formula: see text] dependence, as expected in [Formula: see text] -wave superconductors. In Eu-Bi2201, [Formula: see text] shows almost the same [Formula: see text] dependence as that of La-Bi2201 below [Formula: see text] T, while [Formula: see text] is suppressed above [Formula: see text] T and deviates downward from the [Formula: see text] curve of La-Bi2201. This result suggests the the gap and the electronic excitation spectrum near nodes are modified in Eu-Bi2201 except the region of the Fermi surface in the immediate vicinity of nodes.