On the energy saved by interlayer interactions in the superconducting state of cuprates

A Ginzburg-Landau–like functional is proposed reproducing the main low-energy features of various possible high-Tc superconducting mechanisms involving energy savings due to interlayer interactions. The functional may be used to relate these savings to experimental quantities. Two examples are given, involving the mean-field specific heat jump at Tc and the superconducting fluctuations above Tc. Comparison with existing data suggests, e.g., that the increase of Tc due to the so-called interlayer tunneling (ILT) mechanism of interlayer kinetic-energy savings is negligible in optimally-doped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x. [email protected] Present and permanent address, to where correspondence should be addressed