Inelastic X-ray scattering: a probe of the electronic properties of cuprate superconductors?

The need for a genuine bulk probe of the electronic properties and charge excitations of high-T-c materials, capable of mapping Fermi surfaces and superconducting energy gaps in momentum space, is briefly reviewed. The possible use of high-resolution inelastic X-ray scattering is discussed theoretically. It is argued that in principle X-ray scattering has the potential to perform such a role, but that the presently available intensity of undulator sources has to increase by at least one order of magnitude before these experiments become feasible. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.