Superconductivity-induced anomalies in the spin excitation spectra of underdoped YBa2Cu3O6+x

Polarized and unpolarized neutron scattering have been used to determine the effect of superconductivity on the magnetic excitation spectra of YBa2Cu3O6.5 (T-c = 52 K) and YBa2Cu3O6.7 (T-c = 67 K); Pronounced enhancements of the spectral weight centered around 25 and 33 meV, respectively; are observed below T-c in both crystals, compensated predominantly by a loss of spectral weight at higher energies. The data provide important clues to the origin of the 40 meV magnetic resonance peak in YBa2Cu3O7.