Dynamic competition between spin-density wave order and superconductivity in underdoped Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe2As2.
Nat Commun
; 5: 3711, 2014 Apr 25.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24762657
ABSTRACT
An intriguing aspect of unconventional superconductivity is that it always appears in the vicinity of other competing phases, whose suppression brings the full emergence of superconductivity. In the iron pnictides, these competing phases are marked by a tetragonal-to-orthorhombic structural transition and a collinear spin-density wave (SDW) transition. There has been macroscopic evidence for competition between these phases and superconductivity as the magnitude of both the orthorhombicity and magnetic moment are suppressed in the superconducting state. Here, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy on detwinned underdoped Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe2As2, we observe a coexistence of both the SDW gap and superconducting gap in the same electronic structure. Furthermore, our data reveal that following the onset of superconductivity, the SDW gap decreases in magnitude and shifts in a direction consistent with a reduction of the orbital anisotropy. This observation provides direct spectroscopic evidence for the dynamic competition between superconductivity and both SDW and electronic nematic orders in these materials.
Full text:
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
Nat Commun
Year:
2014
Document type:
Article