Anewtwo-dimensionalstructuremodulationalongc-andb-axeshasbeendiscoveredinsuperconductingsinglecrystalsofBi2.13Sr1.87CuO6+δ(Bi2201)byx-rayscattering.Suchmodulationstructuredoesnotexistinnon-superconductingBi2201singlecrystals.Butinsteadlatticedistortionsareobservedinthea-b-plane.Thisphenomenonmayindicatethatbothstrainrelaxationandchargemodulationinthea-b-planeareimportanttotheoccurrenceofsuperconductivityinthecopperoxides.
