Raman study of lattice modes in the high critical-temperature superconductor Y-Ba-Cu-O

Raman spectra of high-temperature superconducting materials composed of Y-Ba-Cu-O compounds are reported for the first time. These spectra show numerous lattice modes which are attributed both to the superconducting phase YBa2Cu3Ox and also to the impurity phases of BaCuO2 and Y2BaCuO5. Raman spectroscopy is shown to be a sensitive probe of both the phonon structure of the superconductor and of the impurity phases in the material. © 1987 The American Physical Society.