Point contact spectroscopy in the superconducting and normal state of $\mathrm{NaFe_{1-\textit{x}}Co_\textit{x}As}$

H. Z. Arham; D. E. Bugaris; D. Y. Chung; M. G. Kanatzidis; L. H. Greene

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arXiv · 1406.0038

Point contact spectroscopy in the superconducting and normal state of $\mathrm{NaFe_{1-\textit{x}}Co_\textit{x}As}$

H. Z. Arham·D. E. Bugaris·D. Y. Chung·M. G. Kanatzidis·L. H. Greene

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Abstract

We use point contact spectroscopy to probe the superconducting and normal state properties of the iron-based superconductor $\rm{NaFe_{1-\textit{x}}Co_{\textit{x}}As}$ with $\rm{\textit{x} = 0, 0.02, 0.06}$. Andreev spectra corresponding to multiple superconducting gaps are detected in the superconducting phase. For $\rm{\textit{x} = 0.02}$, a broad conductance enhancement around zero bias voltage is detected in both the normal and the superconducting phase. Such a feature is not present in the $\rm{\textit{x} = 0.06}$ samples. We suspect that this enhancement is caused by orbital fluctuations, as previously detected in underdoped $\rm{Ba(Fe_{1-\textit{x}}Co_\textit{x})_2As_2}$ (Phys. Rev. B 85, 214515 (2012)). Occasionally, the superconducting phase shows a distinct asymmetric conductance feature instead of Andreev reflection. We discuss the possible origins of this feature. NaFeAs (the parent compound) grown by two different techniques is probed. Melt-grown NaFeAs shows a normal state conductance enhancement. On the other hand, at low temperatures, flux-grown NaFeAs shows a sharp dip in the conductance at zero bias voltage. The compounds are very reactive in air and the different spectra are likely a reflection of their different oxidation and purity levels.

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H. Z. Arham, D. E. Bugaris, D. Y. Chung, M. G. Kanatzidis, L. H. Greene. 2014-05-31. Point contact spectroscopy in the superconducting and normal state of $\mathrm{NaFe_{1-\textit{x}}Co_\textit{x}As}$. https://arxiv.org/abs/1406.0038

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