Direct Determination of the Electron-Phonon Coupling Matrix Element in a Correlated System

High-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy measurements have been carried out on an optimally doped cuprate Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8+delta). The momentum-dependent energy and linewidth of an A(1) optical phonon were obtained. Based on these data as well as detailed knowledge of the electronic structure, we developed a scheme to determine the electron-phonon coupling (EPC) matrix element related to a specific phonon mode. Such an approach is general and applicable to elucidating the full structure of EPC in a system with anisotropic electronic structure.