In-plane anisotropy and temperature dependence of oxygen phonon modes in YBa₂Cu₃O_6.95

Inelastic pulsed neutron scattering measurements on YBa₂Cu₃O_6.95 single crystals indicate that the sample has a distinct a-b plane anisotropy in the oxygen vibrations. The Cu-O bond-stretching-type phonons, which are suspected to interact strongly with charge, are simultaneously observed along the a and b directions due to a 7-meV splitting arising from the orthorhombicity, even though the sample is twinned. The bond-stretching LO branch with the polarization along a (perpendicular to the chain) loses intensity beyond the middle of the zone, indicating branch splitting as seen in doped nickelates, with the second branch being located at 10 meV below. The mode along b has a continuous dispersion. These modes show temperature dependence, which parallels that of superconductive order parameter, suggesting significant involvement of phonons in the superconductivity of this compound.