Enhanced superconducting gaps in the tri-layer high-$T_c$ cuprate Bi$_2$Sr$_2$Ca$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{10+δ}$

We have investigated the optimally doped tri-layer cuprate Bi$_2$Sr$_2$Ca$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{10+δ}$ (Bi2223) by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, and observed energy bands and Fermi surfaces originated from the outer and inner CuO$_2$ planes (OP and IP) separately. The OP band is overdoped (hole density $\sim$ 0.26/Cu) with a large d-wave gap of $Δ_0$ $\sim$ 43 meV while the IP is underdoped ($\sim$ 0.06/Cu) with an even large gap of $Δ_0$ $\sim$ 60 meV. We propose that the enhancement of the $Δ_0$ of IP is due to the minimal influence of out-of-plane disorder and that the OP gap is then enhanced through interlayer coupling, most likely a proximity effect from the IP.

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