Multiple andreev reflections spectroscopy of superconducting LiFeAs single crystals: Anisotropy and temperature behavior of the order parameters

The superconducting state of LiFeAs single crystals with the maximum critical temperature T _c ≈ 17 K in the 111 family has been studied in detail by multiple Andreev reflections (MAR) spectroscopy implemented by the break-junction technique. The three superconducting gaps, Δ_Γ = 5.1–6.5 meV, Δ_L = 3.8–4.8 meV, and Δ_S = 0.9–1.9 meV (at T ? T _c), as well as their temperature dependences, have been directly determined in a tunneling experiment with these samples. The anisotropy degrees of the order parameters in the k space have been estimated as <8, ～12, and ～20%, respectively. Andreev spectra have been fitted within the extended Kümmel-Gunsenheimer-Nikolsky model with allowance for anisotropy. The relative electron-boson coupling constants in LiFeAs have been determined by approximating the Δ(T) dependences by the system of the two-band Moskalenko and Suhl equations. It has been shown that the densities of states in bands forming Δ_Γ and Δ_L are approximately the same, intraband pairing dominates in this case, and the interband coupling constants are related as λ_ΓL ≈ λ_LΓ ? λ_SΓ, λ_SL.