Microscopic coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism in Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe2As2

It is widely believed that, in contrast to its electron-doped counterparts, the hole-doped compound Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2) exhibits a mesoscopic phase separation of magnetism and superconductivity in the underdoped region of the phase diagram. Here, we report a combined high-resolution x-ray powder diffraction and volume-sensitive muon spin rotation study of Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2) showing that this paradigm does not hold true in the underdoped region of the phase diagram (0≤x≤0.25). Instead we find a microscopic coexistence of the two forms of order. A competition of magnetism and superconductivity is evident from a significant reduction of the magnetic moment and a concomitant decrease of the magnetoelastically coupled orthorhombic lattice distortion below the superconducting phase transition.     

Exotic d-wave superconducting state of strongly hole-doped K(x)Ba(1-x)Fe2As2

We investigate the superconducting phase in the K(x)Ba(1-x)Fe2As2 122 compounds from moderate to strong hole-doping regimes. Using the functional renormalization group, we show that, while the system develops a nodeless anisotropic s(±) order parameter in the moderately doped regime, gapping out the electron pockets at strong hole doping drives the system into a nodal (cos k(x) + cos k(y))(cos k(x) - cos k(y)) d-wave superconducting state. This is in accordance with recent experimental evidence from measurements on KFe2As2 which observe a nodal order parameter in the extreme doping regime. The magnetic instability is strongly suppressed.     

Ba(1-x)K(x)Mn2As2: an antiferromagnetic local-moment metal

The compound BaMn2As2 with the tetragonal ThCr2Si2 structure is a local-moment antiferromagnetic insulator with a Néel temperature T(N)=625 K and a large ordered moment μ=3.9μ(B)/Mn. We demonstrate that this compound can be driven metallic by partial substitution of Ba by K while retaining the same crystal and antiferromagnetic structures together with nearly the same high T(N) and large μ. Ba(1-x)K(x)Mn2As2 is thus the first metallic ThCr2Si2-type MAs-based system containing local 3d transition metal M magnetic moments, with consequences for the ongoing debate about the local-moment versus itinerant pictures of the FeAs-based superconductors and parent compounds. The Ba(1-x)K(x)Mn2As2 class of compounds also forms a bridge between the layered iron pnictides and cuprates and may be useful to test theories of high T(c) superconductivity.     

Charge transfer effects on the Fermi surface of Ba0.5K0.5Fe2As2

Ab‐initio calculations within density functional theory are performed to obtain a more systematic understanding of the electronic structure of iron pnictides. As a prototypical compound we study Ba_0.5K_0.5Fe₂As₂ and analyze the changes of its electronic structure when the interaction between the Fe₂As₂ layers and their surrounding is modified. We find strong effects on the density of states near the Fermi energy as well as the Fermi surface. The role of the electron donor atoms in iron pnictides thus cannot be understood in a rigid band picture. Instead, the bonding within the Fe₂As₂ layers reacts to a modified charge transfer from the donor atoms by adapting the intra‐layer Fe‐As hybridization and charge transfer in order to maintain an As^3‐ valence state.     

(75)As NMR study of antiferromagnetic fluctuations in Ba(Fe(1-x)Ru(x))(2)As(2)

The evolution of (75)As NMR parameters with composition and temperature was probed in the Ba(Fe(1-x)Ru(x))(2)As(2) system where Fe is replaced by isovalent Ru. While the Ru end member was found to be a conventional Fermi liquid, the composition (x = 0.5) corresponding to the highest T(c) (20 K) in this system shows an upturn in the (75)As [Formula: see text] below about 80 K, evidencing the presence of antiferromagnetic (AFM) fluctuations. These results are similar to those obtained in another system with isovalent substitution, BaFe(2)(As(1-x)P(x))(2) (Nakai et al 2010 Phys. Rev. Lett. 105 107003) and point to a possible role of AFM fluctuations in driving superconductivity.     

Potassium doping effect on the lattice softening and electronic structure of Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2) probed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2) superconducting samples (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5) were synthesized by the solid-state reaction method. In this contribution the doping effect of potassium on the lattice dynamics in this newly discovered Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2) superconductor has been investigated by extended X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy. The analysis shows that with potassium doping an increased disorder in the iron layers is mainly related to the softening of the Fe-Fe bond. Information about the electronic structure of these materials has also been obtained by looking at the X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectra that point out the presence of holes in the Fe-3d/As-4p hybridized orbital of the BaFe(2)As(2)-based system.     

Doping dependence of bilayer resonant spin excitations in (Y, Ca)Ba2Cu3O6+x

Resonant magnetic modes with odd and even symmetries were studied by inelastic neutron scattering experiments in the bilayer high-Tc superconductor Y1-xCa+Ba2Cu3O6+y over a wide doping range. The threshold of the spin excitation continuum in the superconducting state, deduced from the energies and spectral weights of both modes, is compared with the superconducting d-wave gap, deduced from electronic Raman scattering in the B1g symmetry on the same samples. Above a critical doping level of delta approximately =0.19, both mode energies and the continuum threshold coincide. We find a simple scaling relationship between the characteristic energies and spectral weights of both modes, which indicates that the resonant modes are bound states in the superconducting energy gap, as predicted by the spin-exciton model of the resonant mode.     

Mn distribution and spin polarization in Ga(1-x)Mn x As

Using the density functional full-potential linearized augmented plane wave approach, the x-ray absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) spectra of Ga(1-x)Mn x As are calculated. Significantly, XMCD of Mn is highly sensitive to the change in environment, and thus can be utilized to characterize impurity distribution. The nature of Mn-induced spin polarization on Ga and As sites, vital for the carrier mediated magnetic ordering, is discussed in light of computational and experimental results.     

Two-dimensional and three-dimensional Fermi surfaces of superconducting BaFe2(As(1-x)P(x))2 and their nesting properties revealed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

We have studied the three-dimensional shapes of the Fermi surfaces (FSs) of BaFe(2)(As(1-x)P(x))(2) (x=0.38), where superconductivity is induced by isovalent P substitution and by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Moderately strong electron mass enhancement has been identified for both the electron and hole FSs. Among two observed hole FSs, the nearly two-dimensional one shows good nesting with the outer two-dimensional electron FS, but its orbital character is different from the outer electron FS. The three-dimensional hole FS shows poor nesting with the electron FSs. The present results suggest that the three dimensionality and the difference in the orbital character weaken FS nesting while partial nesting among the outer electron FSs of d(xy) character and/or that within the three-dimensional hole FS becomes dominant, which may lead to the nodal superconductivity.     

Dispersion of neutron spin resonance mode in Ba0.67K0.33Fe2As2

We report an inelastic neutron scattering investigation on the spin resonance mode in the optimally hole-doped iron-based superconductor Ba_0.67K_0.33Fe₂As₂ with T_c=38.2 K. Although the resonance is nearly two-dimensional with peak energy E_R≈14 meV, it splits into two incommensurate peaks along the longitudinal direction ([H, 0, 0]) and shows an upward dispersion persisting to 26 meV. Such dispersion breaks through the limit of total superconducting gaps ∆_tot=|∆_k|+|∆_k+Q|(about 11-17 meV) on nested Fermi surfaces measured by high resolution angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). These results cannot be fully understood by the magnetic exciton scenario under s^±-pairing symmetry of superconductivity, and suggest that the spin resonance may not be restricted by the superconducting gaps in the multi-band systems.     

Superconductivity at 38 K in the iron arsenide (Ba1-xKx)Fe2As2

The ternary iron arsenide BaFe2As2 becomes superconducting by hole doping, which was achieved by partial substitution of the barium site with potassium. We have discovered bulk superconductivity at T{c}=38 K in (Ba1-xKx)Fe2As2 with x approximately 0.4. The parent compound BaFe2As2 crystallizes in the tetragonal ThCr2Si2-type structure, which consists of (FeAs);{delta-} iron arsenide layers separated by Ba2+ ions. BaFe2As2 is a poor metal and exhibits a spin density wave anomaly at 140 K. By substituting Ba2+ for K+ ions we have introduced holes in the (FeAs);{-} layers, which suppress the anomaly and induce superconductivity. The T{c} of 38 K in (Ba0.6K0.4)Fe2As2 is the highest in hole doped iron arsenide superconductors so far. Therefore, we were able to expand this class of superconductors by oxygen-free compounds with the ThCr2Si2-type structure.     

Local measurement of the superfluid density in the pnictide superconductor Ba(Fe(1-x)Co(x))(2)As(2) across the superconducting dome

We measure the penetration depth λab(T) in Ba(Fe(1-x)Co(x))(2)As(2) using local techniques that do not average over the sample. The superfluid density ρs(T) ≡ 1/λab(T)2 has three main features. First, ρs (T = 0) falls sharply on the underdoped side of the dome. Second, λab(T) is flat at low T at optimal doping, indicating fully gapped superconductivity, but varies more strongly in underdoped and overdoped samples, consistent with either a power law or a small second gap. Third, ρs (T) varies steeply near Tc for optimal and underdoping. These observations are consistent with an interplay between magnetic and superconducting phases.     

Measurement of a sign-changing two-gap superconducting phase in electron-doped Ba(Fe(1-x)Co(x))2As2 single crystals using scanning tunneling spectroscopy

Scanning tunneling spectroscopic studies of Ba(Fe(1-x)Co(x))(2)As(2) (x=0.06, 0.12) single crystals reveal direct evidence for predominantly two-gap superconductivity. These gaps decrease with increasing temperature and vanish above the superconducting transition T(c). The two-gap nature and the slightly doping- and energy-dependent quasiparticle scattering interferences near the wave vectors (±π, 0) and (0, ±π) are consistent with sign-changing s-wave superconductivity. The excess zero-bias conductance and the large gap-to-T(c) ratios suggest dominant unitary impurity scattering.     

Enhanced Fermi-surface nesting in superconducting BaFe2(As(1-x)P(x))2 revealed by the de Haas-van Alphen effect

The three-dimensional Fermi-surface morphology of superconducting BaFe2(As0.37P0.63)2 with T(c)=9 K is determined using the de Haas-van Alphen effect. The inner electron pocket has a similar area and k(z) interplane warping to the observed hole pocket, revealing that the Fermi surfaces are geometrically well nested in the (π,π) direction. These results are in stark contrast to the fermiology of the nonsuperconducting phosphides (x=1), and therefore suggest an important role for nesting in pnictide superconductivity.     

Doping dependent evolution of magnetism and superconductivity in Eu(1-x)K(x)Fe2As2 (x = 0-1) and temperature dependence of the lower critical field H(c1)

We have synthesized polycrystalline samples of Eu(1-x)K(x)Fe2As2 (x = 0-1) and carried out systematic characterization using x-ray diffraction, ac and dc magnetic susceptibility, and electrical resistivity measurements. A clear signature of the coexistence of a superconducting transition (T(c) = 5.5 K) with spin density wave (SDW) ordering is observed in our underdoped sample with x = 0.15. The SDW transition disappears completely for the x = 0.3 sample and superconductivity arises below 20 K. The superconducting transition temperature Tc increases with increase in the K content and a maximum Tc = 33 K is reached for x = 0.5, beyond which it decreases again. The doping dependent Tx phase diagram is extracted from the magnetic and electrical transport data. It is found that magnetic ordering of Eu moments coexists with the superconductivity up to x = 0.6. The isothermal magnetization data taken at 2 K for the doped samples suggest the 2+ valence state of the Eu ions. We also present the temperature dependence of the lower critical field H(c1) of the superconducting polycrystalline samples. The values of H(c1)(0) obtained for x = 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 after taking the demagnetization factor into account are 202, 330, and 212 Oe, respectively. The London penetration depth λ(T) calculated from the lower critical field does not show exponential dependence at low temperature, as would be expected for a fully gapped clean s-wave superconductor. In contrast, it shows a T2 power law feature up to T = 0.3Tc, as observed in Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe2As2 and BaFe(2-x)Co(x)As2.     

Multigap superconductivity and strong electron-boson coupling in Fe-based superconductors: a point-contact Andreev-reflection study of Ba(Fe(1-x)Co(x))2As2 single crystals

Directional point-contact Andreev-reflection measurements in Ba(Fe(1-x)Co(x))2As2 single crystals (T(c) = 24.5 K) indicate the presence of two superconducting gaps with no line nodes on the Fermi surface. The point-contact Andreev-reflection spectra also feature additional structures related to the electron-boson interaction, from which the characteristic boson energy Ω(b)(T) is obtained, very similar to the spin-resonance energy observed in neutron scattering experiments. Both the gaps and the additional structures can be reproduced within a three-band s ± Eliashberg model by using an electron-boson spectral function peaked at Ω(0) = 12 meV ? Ω(b)(0).     

Normal-state hourglass dispersion of the spin excitations in FeSexTe(1-x)

We use cold neutron spectroscopy to study the low-energy spin excitations of superconducting (SC) FeSe0.4Te0.6 and essentially nonsuperconducting (NSC) FeSe0.45Te0.55. In contrast with BaFe2-x(Co,Ni)xAs2, where the low-energy spin excitations are commensurate both in the SC and normal state, the normal-state spin excitations in SC FeSe0.4Te0.6 are incommensurate and show an hourglass dispersion near the resonance energy. Since similar hourglass dispersion is also found in the NSC FeSe0.45Te0.55, we argue that the observed incommensurate spin excitations in FeSe(1-x)Tex are not directly associated with superconductivity. Instead, the results can be understood within a picture of Fermi surface nesting assuming extremely low Fermi velocities and spin-orbital coupling.     

Electrical measurement of the direct spin hall effect in Fe/InxGa(1-x)As heterostructures

We report on an all-electrical measurement of the spin Hall effect in epitaxial Fe/InxGa(1-x)As heterostructures with n-type (Si) channel doping and highly doped Schottky tunnel barriers. A transverse spin current generated by an ordinary charge current flowing in the InxGa(1-x)As is detected by measuring the spin accumulation at the edges of the channel. The spin accumulation is identified through the observation of a Hanle effect in the voltage measured by pairs of ferromagnetic Hall contacts. We investigate the bias and temperature dependence of the resulting Hanle signal and determine the skew and side-jump contributions to the total spin Hall conductivity.     

Debye temperature and magnetic ordering in K x Ba1−x Fe2S3

⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer measurements are reported for the series K _x Ba_1?x Fe₂S₃, x ≤ 0.3, at temperatures between 4.2 K ≤ T ≤ 294 K. A decrease of the Debye temperature from 435 to 405 K with x, indicates a weakening of the stiffness of the Fe sublattice. The ordering temperatures, taken from the appearance of magnetic hyperfine splitting in the spectra, are approximately 40 K lower for x ≥ 0.1. The values of the centre shift and the small temperature dependence of the quadrupole splitting strongly supports that similar to the border compound BaFe₂S₃ also the K containing samples should be characterised as mixed valence compounds.     

Fermi surface and quasiparticle excitations of overdoped Tl2Ba2CuO6 + delta

The high-T(c) superconductor Tl(2)Ba(2)CuO(6 + delta) is studied by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. For a very overdoped T(c) = 30 K sample, the Fermi surface consists of a single large hole pocket centered at (pi, pi) and is approaching a topological transition. Although a superconducting gap with d(x(2)-y(2)) symmetry is tentatively identified, the quasiparticle evolution with momentum and binding energy exhibits a marked departure from the behavior observed in under and optimally doped cuprates. The relevance of these findings to scattering, many-body, and quantum-critical phenomena is discussed.