Energy Scales in the Local Magnetic Excitation Spectrum of YBa2Cu3O6+y

The wave-vector integrated dynamical spin susceptibility _2D() of YBa ₂ Cu ₃ O _6+y cuprates is considered. _2D is calculated in the superconducting state from a renormalized mean-field theory of the t–t–J-model, based on the slave-boson formulation. Besides the well-known 41 meV resonance a second, much broader peak ('hump') appears in Im _2D. It is caused by particle-hole excitations across the maximum gap ⁰ . In contrast to the resonance, which moves to lower energies when the hole filling is reduced from optimal doping, the position of this 'hump' at 2 ⁰ stays almost unchanged. The results are in reasonable agreement with inelastic neutronscattering experiments.