An analysis of the resistivity above ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{c}}$ in the oxide superconductors shows that the inelastic-scattering rate is several times kT. This inelastic scattering yields pair breaking which suppresses ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{c}}$ relative to the energy gap. The large energy scale in the problem suggests an electronic pairing mechanism, which we believe leads to d-wave pairing. The inelastic scattering has contributions from electron-phonon and from electron-electron scattering in a two-dimensional square lattice near half filling. In the latter case, the pair breaking can be reduced in a more three-dimensional structure.

• Received 2 April 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.58.2691