Predominantly Superconducting Origin of Large Energy Gaps in Underdoped Bi2sr2cacu2o8+? From Tunneling Spectroscopy

New tunneling data are reported in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ which show quasiparticle excitation gaps, Δ, reaching values as high as 60 meV for underdoped crystals with Tc = 70 K. These energy gaps are nearly 3 times larger than those of overdoped crystals with similar Tc. Despite the large differences in gap magnitude, the tunneling spectra display qualitatively similar characteristics over the entire doping range. Detailed examination of the spectra, including the Josephson IcRn product measured in break junctions, indicates that these energy gaps are predominantly of superconducting origin.