Spin excitations in hole-overdoped iron-based superconductors.

Understanding the overall features of magnetic excitation is essential for clarifying the mechanism of Cooper pair formation in iron-based superconductors. In particular, clarifying the relationship between magnetism and superconductivity is a central challenge because magnetism may play a key role in their exotic superconductivity. BaFe2As2 is one of ideal systems for such investigation because its superconductivity can be induced in several ways, allowing a comparative examination. Here we report a study on the spin fluctuations of the hole-overdoped iron-based superconductors Ba1-xKxFe2As2 (x = 0.5 and 1.0; Tc = 36 K and 3.4 K, respectively) over the entire Brillouin zone using inelastic neutron scattering. We find that their spin spectra consist of spin wave and chimney-like dispersions. The chimney-like dispersion can be attributed to the itinerant character of magnetism. The band width of the spin wave-like dispersion is almost constant from the non-doped to optimum-doped region, which is followed by a large reduction in the overdoped region. This suggests that the superconductivity is suppressed by the reduction of magnetic exchange couplings, indicating a strong relationship between magnetism and superconductivity in iron-based superconductors.

Suppression of spin-exciton state in hole overdoped iron-based superconductors.

The mechanism of Cooper pair formation in iron-based superconductors remains a controversial topic. The main question is whether spin or orbital fluctuations are responsible for the pairing mechanism. To solve this problem, a crucial clue can be obtained by examining the remarkable enhancement of magnetic neutron scattering signals appearing in a superconducting phase. The enhancement is called spin resonance for a spin fluctuation model, in which their energy is restricted below twice the superconducting gap value (2Δs), whereas larger energies are possible in other models such as an orbital fluctuation model. Here we report the doping dependence of low-energy magnetic excitation spectra in Ba1-xKxFe2As2 for 0.5 < x < 0.84 studied by inelastic neutron scattering. We find that the behavior of the spin resonance dramatically changes from optimum to overdoped regions. Strong resonance peaks are observed clearly below 2Δs in the optimum doping region, while they are absent in the overdoped region. Instead, there is a transfer of spectral weight from energies below 2Δs to higher energies, peaking at values of 3Δs for x = 0.84. These results suggest a reduced impact of magnetism on Cooper pair formation in the overdoped region.

Anisotropy of the superconducting gap in the iron-based superconductor BaFe2(As(1-x)P(x))2.

We report peculiar momentum-dependent anisotropy in the superconducting gap observed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy in BaFe2(As(1-x)P(x))2 (x = 0.30, Tc = 30 K). Strongly anisotropic gap has been found only in the electron Fermi surface while the gap on the entire hole Fermi surfaces are nearly isotropic. These results are inconsistent with horizontal nodes but are consistent with modified s ± gap with nodal loops. We have shown that the complicated gap modulation can be theoretically reproduced by considering both spin and orbital fluctuations.

Universal heat conduction in the iron arsenide superconductor KFe2As2: evidence of a d-wave state.

The thermal conductivity κ of the iron arsenide superconductor KFe2As2 was measured down to 50 mK for a heat current parallel and perpendicular to the tetragonal c axis. A residual linear term at T→0, κ(0)/T is observed for both current directions, confirming the presence of nodes in the superconducting gap. Our value of κ(0)/T in the plane is equal to that reported by Dong et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 087005 (2010)] for a sample whose residual resistivity ρ(0) was 10 times larger. This independence of κ(0)/T on impurity scattering is the signature of universal heat transport, a property of superconducting states with symmetry-imposed line nodes. This argues against an s-wave state with accidental nodes. It favors instead a d-wave state, an assignment consistent with five additional properties: the magnitude of the critical scattering rate Γ(c) for suppressing T(c) to zero; the magnitude of κ(0)/T, and its dependence on current direction and on magnetic field; the temperature dependence of κ(T).

Anisotropic energy gaps of iron-based superconductivity from intraband quasiparticle interference in LiFeAs.

If strong electron-electron interactions between neighboring Fe atoms mediate the Cooper pairing in iron-pnictide superconductors, then specific and distinct anisotropic superconducting energy gaps Δ(i)(k) should appear on the different electronic bands i. Here, we introduce intraband Bogoliubov quasiparticle scattering interference (QPI) techniques for determination of Δ(i)(k) in such materials, focusing on lithium iron arsenide (LiFeAs). We identify the three hole-like bands assigned previously as γ, α(2), and α(1), and we determine the anisotropy, magnitude, and relative orientations of their Δ(i)(k). These measurements will advance quantitative theoretical analysis of the mechanism of Cooper pairing in iron-based superconductivity.

Unprecedented anisotropic metallic state in undoped iron arsenide BaFe2As2 revealed by optical spectroscopy.

An ordered phase showing remarkable electronic anisotropy in proximity to the superconducting phase is now a hot issue in the field of high-transition-temperature superconductivity. As in the case of copper oxides, superconductivity in iron arsenides competes or coexists with such an ordered phase. Undoped and underdoped iron arsenides have a magnetostructural ordered phase exhibiting stripe-like antiferromagnetic spin order accompanied by an orthorhombic lattice distortion; both the spin order and lattice distortion break the tetragonal symmetry of crystals of these compounds. In this ordered state, anisotropy of in-plane electrical resistivity is anomalous and difficult to attribute simply to the spin order and/or the lattice distortion. Here, we present the anisotropic optical spectra measured on detwinned BaFe(2)As(2) crystals with light polarization parallel to the Fe planes. Pronounced anisotropy is observed in the spectra, persisting up to an unexpectedly high photon energy of about 2 eV. Such anisotropy arises from an anisotropic energy gap opening below and slightly above the onset of the order. Detailed analysis of the optical spectra reveals an unprecedented electronic state in the ordered phase.