Photoemission spectroscopic evidence of gap anisotropy in an f-electron superconductor

We used low-temperature ultrahigh-resolution (360 μeV) photoemission spectroscopy with a laser as a photon source (Laser-PES) to study the superconducting (SC) gap of an f-electron superconductor CeRu₂. The unique combination of the large escape depth expected from the known universal behavior and extremely high-energy resolution has enabled us to directly measure the bulk SC gap of an f-electron superconductor for the first time. The present study provides direct evidence for an anisotropic SC gap in C _eRu₂, and also demonstrates the potential of Laser-PES in investigating unconventional superconductivity realized in correlated d- and f-electron superconductors.