Determination of boson spectrum from optical data in pseudogap phase of underdoped cuprates

Information on the nature of the dominant inelastic processes operative in correlated metallic systems can be obtained from an analysis of their AC optical response. An electron-boson spectral density can usefully be extracted. This density is closely related to the optical scattering rate. However, in the underdoped region of the high Tc cuprate phase diagram a new energy scale (the pseudogap) emerges, which alters the optical scattering and needs to be taken into account in any fit to data. This can influence the shape and strength of the recovered boson spectral function. Including a pseudogap in an extended maximum entropy inversion for optimally doped Bi-2212 is more consistent with existing data than when it is left out as done previously.