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Anisotropic phase diagram and strong coupling effects in Ba{sub 1-x}K{sub x}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2}.

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. B
We present a thermodynamic study of the phase diagram of single-crystal Ba{sub 1-x}K{sub x}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2} using specific-heat measurements. In zero-magnetic field a clear step in the heat capacity of {Delta}C/T{sub c} = 0.1 J/mol K{sup 2} is observed at T{sub c} {approx} 34.6 K for a sample with x = 0.4. This material is characterized by extraordinarily high slopes of the upper critical field of {mu}{sub 0}{partial_derivative}H{sub c2}{sup e}/{partial_derivative}T = -6.5 T/K and {mu}{sub 0}{partial_derivative}H{sub c2}{sup ab}/{partial_derivative}T = -17.4 T/K and a surprisingly low anisotropy of {Lambda} {approx} 2.6 near T{sub c}. A consequence of the large field scale is the effective suppression of superconducting fluctuations. Using thermodynamic relations we determine Ginzburg-Landau parameters of {kappa}{sub c} {approx} 100 and {kappa}{sub ab} {approx} 260 identifying Ba{sub 1-x}K{sub x}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2} as extreme type II. The large value of the normalized discontinuity of the slopes of the specific heat at T{sub c}, (T{sub c}/{Delta}C){Delta}(dC/dT){sub T{sub c}}, {approx}6, indicates strong-coupling effects in Ba{sub 1-x}K{sub x}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2}.
Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
Sponsoring Organization:
SC; National Science of Foundation of China; Ministry of Science and Technology of China; Chinese Academy of Science
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
958539
Report Number(s):
ANL/MSD/JA-63280
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. B, Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B Journal Issue: 2009 Vol. 79; ISSN 1098-0121
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH