Correlation between Tc and the Pseudogap Observed in the Optical Spectra of High Tc Superconducting Cuprates

We studied the temperature dependences of the optical spectra for optimally and underdoped Bi₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O10+z single crystals. Similarly to the other cuprates' cases, a gap-like conductivity suppression was observed with reducing the temperature from above Tc, creating a peak in the conductivity spectrum. The conductivity peak energy was insensitive to the doping level, namely Tc, which suggests that this gap is not a superconducting gap but is related to the pseudogap. Comparing the data of various mono-, double-, and triple-layer cuprates, we found a clear correlation between the optimal Tc of each material and the pseudogap-related conductivity peak energy.