The pseudogap in

We present electron-tunneling spectroscopy of slightly overdoped ${\rm Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O}_{8-x}$ (Bi2212) single crystals with $T_{\ab{c}} = 87$–90 K in a temperature range between 14 K and 290 K using a break-junction technique. The pseudogap which has been detected above $T_{\ab{c}}$ appears at $T^* \approx 280\un{K}$. The analysis of the spectra shows that there is a contribution to the pseudogap above $T_{\ab{c}}$, which disappears approximately at 110–115 K. We associate this contribution with the presence of incoherent Cooper pairs