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Title: Competition between superconductivity and magnetic/nematic order as a source of anisotropic superconducting gap in underdoped Ba1-xKxFe2As2

Abstract

The in-plane London penetration depth Δλ(T) was measured using a tunnel diode resonator technique in single crystals of Ba1-xKxFe2As2 with doping levels x ranging from heavily underdoped, x=0.16 (Tc=7K), to nearly optimally doped, x=0.34 (Tc=39K). Exponential saturation of Δλ(T) in the T→0 limit is found in optimally doped samples, with the superfluid density ρs(T)≡[λ(0)/λ(T)]2 quantitatively described by a self-consistent γ model with two nodeless isotropic superconducting gaps. As the doping level is decreased towards the extreme end of the superconducting dome at x=0.16, the low-temperature behavior of Δλ(T) becomes nonexponential and is best described by the power law Δλ(T)∝T2, characteristic of strongly anisotropic gaps. The change between the two regimes happens within the range of coexisting magnetic/nematic order and superconductivity, x<0.25, and is accompanied by a rapid rise in the absolute value of Δλ(T) with underdoping. This effect, characteristic of the competition between superconductivity and other ordered states, is very similar to but of significantly smaller magnitude than what is observed in the electron-doped Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 compounds. Our study suggests that the competition between superconductivity and magnetic/nematic order in hole-doped compounds is weaker than in electron-doped compounds, and that the anisotropy of the superconducting state in the underdoped iron pnictides ismore » a consequence of the anisotropic changes in the pairing interaction and in the gap function promoted by both magnetic and nematic long-range orders.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [4];  [5];  [1]
  1. Ames Laboratory
  2. Iowa State University
  3. Universite de Sherbrooke
  4. Nanjing University
  5. University of Minnesota
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Ames Lab., Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
OSTI Identifier:
1163905
Report Number(s):
IS-J 8415
Journal ID: ISSN 1098-0121; PRBMDO; ArticleNumber: 014517
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC02-07CH11358
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 90; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 1098-0121
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Citation Formats

Kim, H, Tanatar, M A, Straszheim, W E, Cho, K, Murphy, J, Spyrison, N, Reid, J -Ph, Shen, Bing, Wen, Hai-Hu, Fernandes, R M, and Prozorov, R. Competition between superconductivity and magnetic/nematic order as a source of anisotropic superconducting gap in underdoped Ba1-xKxFe2As2. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.90.014517.
Kim, H, Tanatar, M A, Straszheim, W E, Cho, K, Murphy, J, Spyrison, N, Reid, J -Ph, Shen, Bing, Wen, Hai-Hu, Fernandes, R M, & Prozorov, R. Competition between superconductivity and magnetic/nematic order as a source of anisotropic superconducting gap in underdoped Ba1-xKxFe2As2. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.90.014517
Kim, H, Tanatar, M A, Straszheim, W E, Cho, K, Murphy, J, Spyrison, N, Reid, J -Ph, Shen, Bing, Wen, Hai-Hu, Fernandes, R M, and Prozorov, R. 2014. "Competition between superconductivity and magnetic/nematic order as a source of anisotropic superconducting gap in underdoped Ba1-xKxFe2As2". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.90.014517.
@article{osti_1163905,
title = {Competition between superconductivity and magnetic/nematic order as a source of anisotropic superconducting gap in underdoped Ba1-xKxFe2As2},
author = {Kim, H and Tanatar, M A and Straszheim, W E and Cho, K and Murphy, J and Spyrison, N and Reid, J -Ph and Shen, Bing and Wen, Hai-Hu and Fernandes, R M and Prozorov, R},
abstractNote = {The in-plane London penetration depth Δλ(T) was measured using a tunnel diode resonator technique in single crystals of Ba1-xKxFe2As2 with doping levels x ranging from heavily underdoped, x=0.16 (Tc=7K), to nearly optimally doped, x=0.34 (Tc=39K). Exponential saturation of Δλ(T) in the T→0 limit is found in optimally doped samples, with the superfluid density ρs(T)≡[λ(0)/λ(T)]2 quantitatively described by a self-consistent γ model with two nodeless isotropic superconducting gaps. As the doping level is decreased towards the extreme end of the superconducting dome at x=0.16, the low-temperature behavior of Δλ(T) becomes nonexponential and is best described by the power law Δλ(T)∝T2, characteristic of strongly anisotropic gaps. The change between the two regimes happens within the range of coexisting magnetic/nematic order and superconductivity, x<0.25, and is accompanied by a rapid rise in the absolute value of Δλ(T) with underdoping. This effect, characteristic of the competition between superconductivity and other ordered states, is very similar to but of significantly smaller magnitude than what is observed in the electron-doped Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 compounds. Our study suggests that the competition between superconductivity and magnetic/nematic order in hole-doped compounds is weaker than in electron-doped compounds, and that the anisotropy of the superconducting state in the underdoped iron pnictides is a consequence of the anisotropic changes in the pairing interaction and in the gap function promoted by both magnetic and nematic long-range orders.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.90.014517},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1163905}, journal = {Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics},
issn = {1098-0121},
number = 1,
volume = 90,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}