This project will investigate the anomaly exhibited in the vibrational motion of copper atoms in high Tc superconductors that has been detected near the onset of the superconductivity. At present it is not known whether this anomaly is associated with the superconductive state. The experiments will use blocking of beta particles emitted from neutron activated Cu-64 nuclei in a superconductor, neutron absorption spectroscopy and channeling radiation spectroscopy. These measurements will provide a quantitative measure of the amplitude of the atomic vibrations that can be correlation with the superconducting properties. The experiments will involve collaborations with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and with Aarhus University in Denmark
