TUNNELING MEASUREMENTS OF THE ENERGY GAP IN HIGH-T_{<font>c</font>} SUPERCONDUCTORS

The current status of tunneling measurements of the superconducting density of states near the Fermi level of high-T c superconductors is reviewed. A number of the characteristics of the tunneling data that had previously been considered to be "non-ideal" follow quite naturally from conventional tunneling theory, if the effects of the unusually large energy gap, often unusually small tunneling barriers, and gap anisotropy and/or inhomogeneity are correctly accounted for. Despite formidable problems in making these measurements, due to both the very short coherence lengths and materials problems in these superconductors, a consistent body of data is emerging. A consistent picture can be drawn from this data with the aid of the new modelling presented here.

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