高压下的铁基超导体:现象与物理

始于2008年的铁基超导体研究续写了高温超导发展史的新篇章.回顾过去十年对铁基超导体的研究,在理论、实验及应用方面都取得了辉煌的成绩,丰富了人们对高温超导电性的认识,为突破高温超导机理研究、最终实现超导材料的人工设计与更广泛的应用奠定了坚实的基础.本文主要介绍了通过高压实验研究手段在铁基超导体的研究中取得的一些重要进展及呈现出的新现象和新物理,例如压致超导现象、压力导致的超导再进入现象、压力对超导转变温度的提升效应、压力研究对铁基超导体超导转变温度的预测、相分离结构对超导电性的影响及反铁磁-超导双临界点的发现等.希望这些高压研究结果与本文报道的其他各类实验与理论研究成果一起,为全面、深入地理解铁基超导体勾画出一幅较为完整的物理图像.     

新型铁基超导体材料的研究进展

文章主要介绍了碱金属插层法合成新型铁基超导体的研究进展.通过采用碱金属K对FeSe层状材料插层的方法,得到了一种新型的铁基超导体K0.8Fe1.7Se2,并对该材料的晶体结构与物性进行了研究.结果表明,该化合物的超导转变温度达到30K,这是FeSe体系在常压下的最高超导转变温度.同时,观察到该体系中存在转变温度为43K的超导相,但未得到纯相.通过磁性元素Co的掺杂研究,进一步加深了对K0.8Fe1.7Se2体系超导演化规律的认识.该超导体的发现对深入认识铁基超导体的超导机理,探索具有更高超导转变温度的铁基超导体具有重要意义     

新型铁基超导体材料的研究进展

文章主要介绍了碱金属插层法合成新型铁基超导体的研究进展.通过采用碱金属K对FeSe层状材料插层的方法,得到了一种新型的铁基超导体K0.8Fe1.7Se2,并对该材料的晶体结构与物性进行了研究.结果表明,该化合物的超导转变温度达到30K,这是FeSe体系在常压下的最高超导转变温度.同时,观察到该体系中存在转变温度为43K的超导相,但未得到纯相.通过磁性元素Co的掺杂研究,进一步加深了对K0.8Fe1.7Se2体系超导演化规律的认识.该超导体的发现对深入认识铁基超导体的超导机理,探索具有更高超导转变温度的铁基超导体具有重要意义.     

Superconductivity in SnO: a nonmagnetic analog to Fe-based superconductors?

We discovered that under pressure SnO with α-PbO structure, the same structure as in many Fe-based superconductors, e.g., β-FeSe, undergoes a transition to a superconducting state for p?6 GPa with a maximum Tc of 1.4 K at p=9.3 GPa. The pressure dependence of Tc reveals a domelike shape and superconductivity disappears for p?16 GPa. It is further shown from band structure calculations that SnO under pressure exhibits a Fermi surface topology similar to that reported for some Fe-based superconductors and that the nesting between the hole and electron pockets correlates with the change of Tc as a function of pressure.     

铁基超导体系基于电子关联强度的统一相图

铁基超导和铜基超导具有诸多相似性,这为建立统一的高温超导机理图像提供了可能性.然而,对铁基超导体系中无论是进行电荷掺杂、还是等价掺杂来改变化学压力,都能产生定性上类似、而细节上纷繁复杂的相图,这对建立统一的图像造成了困难.研究化学掺杂效应如何在微观上影响电子结构和超导电性,区分主导超导电性演化的主要因素和次要因素,对建立统一图像和揭示高温超导机理至关重要.本文综述了对铁基超导体系中化学掺杂效应的一系列角分辨光电子能谱研究,涵盖了基于FeAs和FeSe面的多种代表性铁基超导体系,包括异价掺杂、等价掺杂、在元胞不同位置的化学掺杂,及其对电子体系在费米面结构、杂质散射、电子关联强度等方面的影响.实验结果表明：电子关联性或能带宽度是多个铁基超导相图背后的普适参数,不同的晶格和杂质散射效应导致了并不重要的复杂细节,而费米面拓扑结构与超导电性的关联并不强.这些结果对弱耦合机理图像提出了挑战,并促使人们通过局域反铁磁交换作用配对图像在带宽演化层面上统一地理解铁基超导.     

Temperature and doping dependent flat-band superconductivity on the Lieb-lattice

We consider the superconducting properties of Lieb lattice, which produces a flat-band energy spectrum in the normal state under the strong electron–electron correlation. Firstly, we show the hole-doping dependent superconducting order amplitude with various electron–electron interaction strengths in the zero-temperature limit. Secondly, we obtain the superfluid weight and Berezinskii–Kosterlitz–Thouless(BKT) transition temperature with a lightly doping level. The large ratio between the gap-opening temperature and BKT transition temperature shows similar behavior to the pseudogap state in high-T_c superconductors. The BKT transition temperature versus doping level exhibits a dome-like shape in resemblance to the superconducting dome observed in the high-T_c superconductors. However, unlike the exponential dependence of T_c on the electron–electron interaction strength in the conventional high-T_c superconductors, the BKT transition temperature for a flat band system depends linearly on the electron–electron interaction strength. We also show the doping-dependent superconductivity on a lattice with the staggered hoping parameter in the end. Our predictions are amenable to verification in the ultracold atoms experiment and promote the understanding of the anomalous behavior of the superfluid weight in the high-T_c superconductors.     

高温超导体中的赝隙与超导位相涨落

高温超导体赝隙态与超导态之间的关系一直是研究的焦点.交流电导和能斯特（Nernst）效应测量相继探测到超导转变温度Tc0以上温区一定范围内存在磁通涡旋激发,利用力矩技术的磁化率测量则探测到超导涨落引起的弱抗磁性.这些发现都支持了高温超导体赝隙相中存在有限的超导序参量振幅和强烈的位相涨落的图像,说明Tc0处的相变是由库珀对之间长程位相关联的消失所驱动的.文章首先简短地介绍高温超导体的电子态相图和赝隙态,以及能斯特效应的原理和测量方法,然后对能斯特效应的测量结果作一评述性介绍,还讨论了相关的理论模型.     

高温超导体中的赝隙与超导位相涨落

高温超导体赝隙态与超导态之间的关系一直是研究的焦点.交流电导和能斯特（Nernst）效应测量相继探测到超导转变温度Tc0以上温区一定范围内存在磁通涡旋激发,利用力矩技术的磁化率测量则探测到超导涨落引起的弱抗磁性.这些发现都支持了高温超导体赝隙相中存在有限的超导序参量振幅和强烈的位相涨落的图像,说明Tc0处的相变是由库珀对之间长程位相关联的消失所驱动的.文章首先简短地介绍高温超导体的电子态相图和赝隙态,以及能斯特效应的原理和测量方法,然后对能斯特效应的测量结果作一评述性介绍,还讨论了相关的理论模型.     

高温超导体电子结构和超导机理的角分辨光电子能谱研究

超导是一种奇异的宏观量子现象.100多年来,已发现的超导体主要分为两类:以金属或者合金为代表的常规超导体以及以铜氧化物和铁基高温超导体为代表的非常规超导体.常规超导体的超导机理能被BCS超导理论完美解释,但高温超导体的超导机理至今仍未达成共识,已经成为凝聚态物理领域中长期争论且充满挑战的重大科学问题.从实验上揭示非常规超导材料的微观电子结构,是理解其奇异正常态和超导电性机理、建立新理论的前提和基础.角分辨光电子能谱技术,由于可以实现对材料中电子的能量、动量和自旋的直接测量,在高温超导研究中发挥了重要的作用.本文综述了我们利用角分辨光电子能谱技术在铜氧化物和铁基高温超导体电子结构和超导机理研究中取得的一些进展,主要包括母体的电子结构、正常态的非费米液体行为、超导态的能带和超导能隙结构以及多体相互作用等.这些结果为理解铜氧化物和铁基高温超导体的物性及超导机理提供了重要的信息.     

Evolution of the superconducting state of Fe-based compounds with doping

We introduce an effective low-energy pairing model for Fe-based superconductors with s- and d-wave interaction components and a small number of input parameters and use it to study the doping evolution of the symmetry and the structure of the superconducting gap. We argue that the model describes the entire variety of pairing states found so far in the Fe-based superconductors and allows one to understand the mechanism of the attraction in s(±) and d(x(2)-y(2)) channels, the competition between s- and d-wave solutions, and the origin of superconductivity in heavily doped systems, when only electron or only hole pockets are present.     

非常规超导体及其物性

1986年高温铜氧化合物超导体的发现开辟了超导研究的新纪元,人们开始大量探索具有非常规超导机制的新型超导材料,以期发现具有更高超导转变温度的超导体。文章将结合作者多年来的研究,简要介绍具有代表性的非常规超导体材料家族及其物性,以及对非常规超导体材料研究的未来展望。     

铁基超导体的微结构和结构相变研究

铁基超导体表现出丰富的结构和物理性质,在多个典型体系中存在着结构相变和多重有序态之间的关联与竞争. 例如,母相化合物LaFeAsO在150K附近发生从四方相(P4/nmm)到正交相(Cmma)的结构相变,同时其电输运性质和磁化率也表现出明显的反常行为. 微结构分析发现,在CaFe2As2 样品中,存在准周期调制结构,而且在低温区,122体系存在丰富的孪晶畴结构,这种孪晶结构是结构相变的直接结果. 另外,在超导材料KxFe2-ySe2 （0.7≤x≤0.8, 0.2≤y≤0.4）中,Fe空位有序态和结构相分离是理解其结构,也是理解其磁性和输运性质的关键问题,特别是沿［130］晶体带轴方向的5倍超结构与系统的超导电性存在密切关系.     

Electronic dispersion anomalies in iron pnictide superconductors

Recently, experimental studies of the spin excitation spectrum revealed a strong temperature dependence in the normal state and a resonance feature in the superconducting state of several Fe-based superconductors. Based on these findings, we develop a model of electrons interacting with a temperature dependent magnetic excitation spectrum and apply it to angle resolved photoemission in Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2). We reproduce in quantitative agreement with experiment a renormalization of the quasiparticle dispersion both in the normal and the superconducting state, and the dependence of the quasiparticle linewidth on binding energy. We estimate the strength of the coupling between electronic and spin excitations. Our findings support a dominantly magnetic pairing mechanism.     

中国科学技术大学高温超导物理研究新进展

在中国科学技术大学（以下简称中国科大）建校50周年之际,文章作者对近年来中国科大在高温超导物理方面的最新研究进展情况作一介绍,包括新型高温超导材料探索研究和高温超导机理实验研究.在新型高温超导材料探索研究方面,文章作者首次发现了除高温超导铜基化合物以外第一个超导温度突破麦克米兰极限（39 K）的非铜基超导体——铁基砷化物SmO1-xFxFeAs,该类材料的最高超导转变温度可达到55K;中国科大还成功地制备出大量高质量的超导化合物单晶,包括Nd2-xCexCuO4,NaxCoO2,CuxTiSe2等.在高温超导机理实验研究方面,中国科大系统地研究了SmO1-xFxFeAs体系的电输运性质给出了该体系的电子相图;发现了在电子型高温超导体中存在反常的热滞现象和电荷-自旋强烈耦合作用;在NaxCoO2体系中也开展了系列的工作,并且首次明确了电荷有序态中小自旋的磁结构问题;此外,还系统地研究了CuxTiSe2体系中电荷密度波与超导的相互关系.     

Specifics of third-harmonic generation in Bi–Sr–Ca–Cu–O superconductors in the region of superconducting transition temperatures

The specifics of third-harmonic generation in Bi–Sr–Ca–Cu–O two-phase superconductors are studied. It is shown that the emergence of a maximum in the temperature dependence of the third-harmonic voltage in the region of superconducting transition temperatures is associated with the redistribution of the eddy current in the bulk of the semiconductor between its regions with different superconducting parameters (critical current and critical temperature).     

Optical and Raman spectroscopy studies on Fe-based superconductors

A brief review of optical and Raman studies on the Fe-based superconductors is given, with special emphasis on the competing phenomenon in this system. Optical investigations on ReFeAsO (Re = rare-earth element) and AFe₂As₂ (A = alkaline-earth metal) families provide clear evidence for the gap formation in the broken symmetry states, including the partial gaps in the spin-density wave states of parent compounds, and the pairing gaps in the superconducting states for doped compounds. Especially, the superconducting gap has an s-wave pairing lineshape in hole-doped BaFe₂As₂. Optical phonons at zone center detected by Raman and infrared techniques are classified for several Fe-based compounds. Related issues, such as the electron–phonon coupling and the effect of spin-density wave and superconducting transitions on phonons, are also discussed. Meanwhile, open questions including the T-dependent mid-infrared peak at 0.6–0.7 eV, electronic correlation, and the similarities/differences between high-T_c cuprates and Fe-based superconductors are also briefly discussed. Important results from other experimental probes are compared with optical data to better understand the spin-density wave properties, the superconductivity, and the multi-band character in Fe-based compounds.     

Ferromagnet–superconductor hybrids

The new class of phenomena described in this review is based on the interaction between spatially separated, but closely located ferromagnets and superconductors, the so-called ferromagnet–superconductor hybrids (FSH). Typical FSH are: coupled uniform and textured ferromagnetic and superconducting films, magnetic dots over a superconducting film, magnetic nanowires in a superconducting matrix, etc. The interaction is provided by the magnetic field generated by magnetic textures and supercurrents. The magnetic flux from magnetic structures or topological defects can pin vortices or create them, changing the transport properties and transition temperature of the superconductor. On the other hand, the magnetic field from supercurrents (vortices) strongly interacts with the magnetic subsystem, leading to formation of coupled magnetic–superconducting topological defects.

The proximity of ferromagnetic layer dramatically changes the properties of the superconducting film. The exchange field in ferromagnets not only suppresses the Cooper-pair wavefunction, but also leads to its oscillations, which in turn leads to oscillations of observable values: the transition temperature and Josephson current. In particular, in the ground state of the Josephson junction the relative phase of two superconductors separated by a layer of ferromagnetic metal is equal to?π?instead of the usual zero (the so-called π-junction). Such a junction carries a spontaneous supercurrent and possesses other unusual properties. Theory predicts that rotation of magnetization transforms s-pairing into p-pairing. The latter is not suppressed by the exchange field and serves as a carrier of long-range interaction between superconductors.     

Strong Pauli paramagnetic effect in the upper critical field of KCa2Fe4As4F2

Recently, 12442 system of Fe-based superconductors has attracted considerable attention owing to its unique double-Fe As-layer structure. A steep increase in the in-plane upper critical field with cooling has been observed near the superconducting transition temperature, Tc, in KCa2Fe4As4F2 single crystals. Herein, we report a high-field investigation on upper critical field of this material over a wide temperature range, and both out-of-plane(H∥c, Hc2c) and in-plane(H∥ab, Hc2ab ) directions have been measured.A sublinear temperature-dependent behavior is observed for the out-of-plane Hc2c , whereas strong convex curvature with cooling is observed for the in-plane Hc2ab . Such behaviors could not be described by the conventional Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg(WHH) model. The data analysis based on the WHH model by considering the spin aspects reveals a large Maki parameter α=9,indicating that the in-plane upper critical field is affected by a very strong Pauli paramagnetic effect.     

Structural tuning of unconventional superconductivity in PuMGa5 (M=Co,Rh)

The superconducting properties of the recently discovered PuMGa5 (M=Co,Rh) superconductors, including the power law behavior of the specific heat, the evolution of the superconducting transition T(c) temperature with pressure, and the linear relation between T(c) and ratio of tetragonal lattice parameters c/a, are compared to those of the heavy fermion CeMIn5 (M=Co,Rh,Ir) unconventional superconductors. The striking similarity of the properties between the two families of superconductors suggests a common physics and a common (magnetically mediated) mechanism of superconductivity.     

Atomically-flat,chemically-stable,superconducting epitaxial thin film of iron-based superconductor,cobalt-doped BaFe2As2

The epitaxial growth of Fe-based superconductors such as Co-doped SrFe₂As₂ (SrFe₂As₂:Co) was reported recently, but has still insufficient properties for a device application because they have rough surfaces and are decomposed by reactions with water vapor in an ambient atmosphere. This paper reports that epitaxial films of Co-doped BaFe₂As₂ grown at 700 ^°C show the onset superconducting transition temperature of ～20 K. The transition is sharper than those observed on the SrFe₂As₂:Co films, which would originate from their improved crystallinity. These films also have atomically-flat surfaces with step-and-terrace structures and exhibit chemical stability against exposure to water vapor.