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Title: Coupling of structure to magnetic and superconducting orders in quasi-one-dimensional K2Cr3As3

Abstract

Here, quasi-one-dimensional A2Cr3As3 (with A = K, Cs, Rb) is an intriguing new family of superconductors which exhibit many similar features to the cuprate and iron-based unconventional superconductor families. Yet, in contrast to these systems, no charge or magnetic ordering has been observed which could provide the electronic correlations presumed necessary for an unconventional superconducting pairing mechanism—an absence which defies predictions of first-principles models. We report the results of neutron scattering experiments on polycrystalline K2Cr3As3 (Tc ~ 7) which probed the low-temperature dynamics near Tc. Neutron diffraction data evidence a subtle response of the nuclear lattice to the onset of superconductivity while inelastic scattering reveals a highly dispersive column of intensity at the commensurate wave vector q = (001/2) which loses intensity beneath Tc-indicative of short-range magnetic fluctuations. Using linear spin-wave theory, we model the observed scattering and suggest a possible structure to the short-range magnetic order. These observations suggest that K2Cr3As3 is in close proximity to a magnetic instability and that the incipient magnetic order both couples strongly to the lattice and competes with superconductivity, in direct analogy with the iron-based superconductors.

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division; USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1784218
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1409468
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Physical Review B
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 96; Journal Issue: 18; Journal ID: ISSN 2469-9950
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; magnetism; superconductivity; 1-dimensional systems; inelastic neutron scattering; neutron diffraction

Citation Formats

Taddei, Keith M., Zheng, Qiang, Sefat, Athena Safa, and Dela Cruz, Clarina R. Coupling of structure to magnetic and superconducting orders in quasi-one-dimensional K2Cr3As3. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1103/physrevb.96.180506.
Taddei, Keith M., Zheng, Qiang, Sefat, Athena Safa, & Dela Cruz, Clarina R. Coupling of structure to magnetic and superconducting orders in quasi-one-dimensional K2Cr3As3. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.96.180506
Taddei, Keith M., Zheng, Qiang, Sefat, Athena Safa, and Dela Cruz, Clarina R. Mon . "Coupling of structure to magnetic and superconducting orders in quasi-one-dimensional K2Cr3As3". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.96.180506. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1784218.
@article{osti_1784218,
title = {Coupling of structure to magnetic and superconducting orders in quasi-one-dimensional K2Cr3As3},
author = {Taddei, Keith M. and Zheng, Qiang and Sefat, Athena Safa and Dela Cruz, Clarina R.},
abstractNote = {Here, quasi-one-dimensional A2Cr3As3 (with A = K, Cs, Rb) is an intriguing new family of superconductors which exhibit many similar features to the cuprate and iron-based unconventional superconductor families. Yet, in contrast to these systems, no charge or magnetic ordering has been observed which could provide the electronic correlations presumed necessary for an unconventional superconducting pairing mechanism—an absence which defies predictions of first-principles models. We report the results of neutron scattering experiments on polycrystalline K2Cr3As3 (Tc ~ 7) which probed the low-temperature dynamics near Tc. Neutron diffraction data evidence a subtle response of the nuclear lattice to the onset of superconductivity while inelastic scattering reveals a highly dispersive column of intensity at the commensurate wave vector q = (001/2) which loses intensity beneath Tc-indicative of short-range magnetic fluctuations. Using linear spin-wave theory, we model the observed scattering and suggest a possible structure to the short-range magnetic order. These observations suggest that K2Cr3As3 is in close proximity to a magnetic instability and that the incipient magnetic order both couples strongly to the lattice and competes with superconductivity, in direct analogy with the iron-based superconductors.},
doi = {10.1103/physrevb.96.180506},
journal = {Physical Review B},
number = 18,
volume = 96,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Nov 20 00:00:00 EST 2017},
month = {Mon Nov 20 00:00:00 EST 2017}
}

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Cited by: 18 works
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Works referencing / citing this record:

Tuning from frustrated magnetism to superconductivity in quasi-one-dimensional KCr 3 As 3 through hydrogen doping
journal, December 2019


Superconductivity with peculiar upper critical fields in quasi-one-dimensional Cr-based pnictides
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