Inelastic X-ray scattering: a probe of the electronic properties of cuprate superconductors? Original Research Article

The need for a genuine bulk probe of the electronic properties and charge excitations of high-Tc materials, capable of mapping Fermi surfaces and superconducting energy gaps in momentum space, is briefly reviewed. The possible use of high-resolution inelastic X-ray scattering is discussed theoretically. It is argued that in principle X-ray scattering has the potential to perform such a role, but that the presently available intensity of undulator sources has to increase by at least one order of magnitude before these experiments become feasible.