Uniaxial-strain mechanical detwinning of CaFe[subscript 2]As[subscript 2] and BaFe[subscript 2]As[subscript 2] crystals: Optical and transport study
- Ames
The parent compounds of iron-arsenide superconductors, AFe{sub 2}As{sub 2} (A=Ca, Sr, Ba), undergo a tetragonal to orthorhombic structural transition at a temperature T{sub TO} in the range 135-205 K depending on the alkaline-earth element. Below T{sub TO} the free standing crystals split into equally populated structural domains, which mask intrinsic, in-plane, anisotropic properties of the materials. Here we demonstrate a way of mechanically detwinning CaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2} and BaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2}. The detwinning is nearly complete, as demonstrated by polarized light imaging and synchrotron x-ray measurements, and reversible, with twin pattern restored after strain release. Electrical resistivity measurements in the twinned and detwinned states show that resistivity, {rho}, decreases along the orthorhombic a{sub o} axis but increases along the orthorhombic b{sub o} axis in both compounds. Immediately below T{sub TO} the ratio {rho}{sub bo}/{rho}{sub ao} = 1.2 and 1.5 for Ca and Ba compounds, respectively. Contrary to CaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2}, BaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2} reveals an anisotropy in the nominally tetragonal phase, suggesting that either fluctuations play a larger role above T{sub TO} in BaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2} than in CaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2} or that there is a higher temperature crossover or phase transition.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 1002773
- Journal Information:
- Phys. Rev. B, Vol. 81, Issue (18) ; 05, 2010
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- ENGLISH
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