Quasi-particle interference probe of the self-energy

Abstract

Quasi-particle interference (QPI) measurements have provided a powerful tool for determining the momentum dependence of the gap of unconventional superconductors. Here we examine the possibility of using such measurements to probe the frequency and momentum dependence of the electron self-energy. For illustration, we calculate the QPI response function for a cuprate-like Fermi surface with an electron self-energy from a random phase approximation. Then we try to re-extract the self-energy from the dispersion of the peaks in the QPI response function using different approaches. We show that in principle it is possible to extract the self-energy from the QPI response for certain nested momentum directions. We discuss some of the limitations that one faces. © 2014 IOP Publishing and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.