  We report the results of Raman scattering experiments on single crystals of
La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4) that span the range from underdoped (x = 0.10) to overdoped
(x =0.22). The spectra are consistent with the existence of a strong
anisotropic quasiparticle interaction that results in a normal state depletion
of spectral weight from regions of the Fermi surface located near the zone
axes. The strength of the interaction decreases rapidly with increasing hole
concentration and the spectral evidence for the pseudogap vanishes when the
optimum doping level is reached. The results suggest that the pseudogap and
superconducting gap arise from different mechanisms.
