Evidence for charge transfer in Bi-based superconductors studied by positron annihilation

We have measured Doppler-broadening annihilation radiation (DBAR) spectra and positron lifetimes in normal and superconducting states for three kinds of Bi-based superconductors: Bi2212, Pb-doped Bi2223, Pb- and F-doped Bi2223. The difference spectra after deconvolution between two states show a sharpening effect with increasing temperature; the F-doped sample has the greatest amplitude in difference spectra but nearly the same positron lifetimes as the Pb-doped sample. The results are interpreted in terms of charge transfer between the Cu-O and Bi-O planes. The role of oxygen defects in charge transfer is discussed. (orig.)