The Superconducting Gap in MgB₂: Electronic Raman Scattering Measurements of Single Crystals

Polarisation-resolved Raman scattering measurements were performed on MgB_2 single crystals to determine the magnitude, symmetry and temperature dependence of the superconducting gap. A single sharp peak due to Cooper pair breaking appears in the electronic continuum below Tc, reaching an average maximum Raman shift of 105 +/- 1 cm^{-1} (2 Delta(0) / k_{B}Tc = 3.96 +/- 0.09) and showing up to 5 cm^{-1} anisotropy between polarised and depolarised spectra. The temperature dependence of 2 Delta follows that predicted from BCS theory, while the anisotropy decreases with decreasing temperature. It is concluded that the Raman results are consistent with a slightly anisotropic s-wave gap in a conventional BCS superconductor.