arXiv subjects

A. E. Böhmer

Publications and source records attributed to A. E. Böhmer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

From Narrow-gap Semiconductor to Metallic Altermagnet: Optical Fingerprints of Co-Doped FeSb2

The realization of bulk metallic altermagnetism has remained elusive despite the growing number of candidate materials. Here, we present evidence that moderate cobalt substitution ($\sim$15%) drives the correlated narrow-gap semiconductor FeSb$_2$ into a metallic altermagnetic state persisting up to room temperature. The infrared optical conductivity reveals low-energy interband transitions near 0.1 eV that emerge upon doping and grow with Co concentration. Density functional theory calculations show that these transitions originate exclusively from altermagnetic spin ordering, with spin split bands ($\sim$0.2 eV) of non-relativistic origin, together with spin-orbit coupling induced band splitting of the order of $\sim$5 meV near the Fermi level. Co substitution further leads to Fano lineshapes and mode mixing in the infrared-active phonons, reflecting enhanced electron-phonon coupling and local inversion symmetry breaking, while leaving the altermagnetic spin symmetry intact. Our results establish carrier-tuned FeSb$_2$ as a platform for exploring metallic $d$-wave altermagnetism and its coupling to lattice degrees of freedom.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Interrelationships between nematicity, antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations and superconductivity: Role of hotspots in FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_{x}$ revealed by high pressure $^{77}$Se NMR study

The sulfur-substituted FeSe, FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_{x} $, is one of the unique systems that provides an independent tunability of nematicity, antiferromagnetism and superconductivity under pressure ($p$). Recently Rana et al. [Phys. Rev. B 101, 180503(R) (2020)] reported, from $^{77}$Se nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements on FeSe$_{0.91}$S$_{0.09}$ under pressure, that there exists a clear role of nematicity on the relationship between antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin fluctuations and superconducting transition temperature ($T_{\rm c}$) where the AFM spin fluctuations are more effective in enhancing $T_{\rm c}$ in the absence of nematicity than with nematicity. Motivated by the work, we carried out $^{77}$Se NMR measurements on FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_{x}$ with $x$= 0.15 and 0.29 under pressure up to 2.10 GPa to investigate the relationship in a wide range of $x$ in the FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_x$ system. Based on the new results together with the previously reported data for $x$=0 [P. Wiecki et al., Phys. Rev. B 96, 180502(R) (2017)] and 0.09 [K. Rana et al. Phys. Rev. B 101, 180503(R) (2020)], we established a $p$ - $x$ - temperature ($T$) phase diagram exhibiting the evolution of AFM spin fluctuations. From the systematic analysis of the NMR data, we found that the superconducting (SC) state in nematic state arises from a non Fermi liquid state with strong stripe-type AFM spin fluctuations while the SC state without nematicity comes from a Fermi liquid state with mild stripe-type AFM spin fluctuations. Furthermore, we show that the previously reported impact of nematicity on the relationship between AFM fluctuations and superconductivity holds throughout the wide range of $x$ from $x$ = 0 to 0.29 in FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_{x}$ under pressure. We discuss the origin of the role of nematicity in terms of the different numbers of hotspots on Fermi surfaces with and without nematicity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Elastoresistivity in the incommensurate charge density wave phase of BaNi$_{\textrm{2}}$(As$_{\textrm{1-x}}$P$_{\textrm{x}}$)$_{\textrm{2}}$

Electronic nematicity, the breaking of the crystal lattice rotational symmetry by the electronic fluid, is a fascinating quantum state of matter. Recently, BaNi$_2$As$_2$ has emerged as a promising candidate for a novel type of nematicity triggered by charge fluctuations. In this work, we scrutinize the electronic nematicity of BaNi$_2$(As$_{1-x}$P$_x$)$_2$ with $0 \leq x \leq 0.10$ using electronic transport measurements under strain. We report a large $B_{1g}$ elastoresistance coefficient that is maximized at a temperature slightly higher than the first-order triclinic transition, and that corresponds to the recently discovered tetragonal-to-orthorhombic transition. The reported elastoresistance does not follow the typical Curie-Weiss form observed in iron-based superconductors but has a much sharper temperature dependence with a finite elastoresistance onsetting only together with a strong enhancement of the incommensurate charge density wave of the material. Consequently, the $B_{1g}$ elastoresistance and the associated orthorhombic distortion appears here as a property of this incommensurate charge density wave. Finally, we report and track the hysteretic behavior seen in the resistance versus strain sweeps and interpret its origin as the pinning of orthorhombic domains. Our results revise the understanding of the interplay between nematicity, charge density waves and structural distortions in this material.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Emerging symmetric strain response and weakening nematic fluctuations in strongly hole-doped iron-based superconductors

Electronic nematicity is often found in unconventional superconductors, suggesting its relevance for electronic pairing. In the strongly hole-doped iron-based superconductors, the symmetry channel and strength of the nematic fluctuations, as well as the possible presence of long-range nematic order, remain controversial. Here, we address these questions using transport measurements under elastic strain. By decomposing the strain response into the appropriate symmetry channels, we demonstrate the emergence of a giant in-plane symmetric contribution, associated with the growth of both strong electronic correlations and the sensitivity of these correlations to strain. We find weakened remnants of the nematic fluctuations that are present at optimal doping, but no change in the symmetry channel of nematic fluctuations with hole doping. Furthermore, we find no evidence for a nematic-ordered state in the AFe$_2$As$_2$(A = K, Rb, Cs) superconductors. These results revise the current understanding of nematicity in hole-doped iron-based superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Lattice-Shifted Nematic Quantum Critical Point in FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_x$

We report the evolution of nematic fluctuations in FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_x$ single crystals as a function of Sulfur content $x$ across the nematic quantum critical point (QCP) $x_c\sim$ 0.17 via Raman scattering. The Raman spectra in the $B_{1g}$ nematic channel consist of two components, but only the low energy one displays clear fingerprints of critical behavior and is attributed to itinerant carriers. Curie-Weiss analysis of the associated nematic susceptibility indicates a substantial effect of nemato-elastic coupling which shifts the location of the nematic QCP. We argue that this lattice-induced shift likely explains the absence of any enhancement of the superconducting transition temperature at the QCP. The presence of two components in the nematic fluctuations spectrum is attributed to the dual aspect of electronic degrees of freedom in Hund's metals, with both itinerant carriers and local moments contributing to the nematic susceptibility.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Dominant in-plane symmetric elastoresistance in CsFe2As2

We study the elastoresistance of the highly correlated material CsFe2As2 in all symmetry channels. Neutralizing its thermal expansion by means of a piezoelectric-based strain cell is demonstrated to be essential. The elastoresistance response in the in-plane symmetric channel is found to be large, while the response in the symmetry-breaking channels is weaker and provides no evidence for a divergent nematic susceptibility. Rather, our results can be interpreted naturally within the framework of a coherence-incoherence crossover, where the low-temperature coherent state is sensitively tuned by the in-plane atomic distances.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Impact of Nematicity on the Relationship between Antiferromagnetic Fluctuations and Superconductivity in FeSe0.91S0.09 Under Pressure

The sulfur substituted FeSe system, FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_{x}$, provides a versatile platform for studying the relationship between nematicity, antiferromagnetism, and superconductivity. Here, by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and resistivity measurements up to 4.73 GPa on FeSe$_{0.91}$S$_{0.09}$, we established the pressure($p$)-temperature($T$) phase diagram in which the nematic state is suppressed with pressure showing a nematic quantum phase transition (QPT) around $p$ = 0.5 GPa, two SC regions, separated by the QPT, appear and antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase emerges above $\sim$3.3 GPa. From the NMR results up to 2.1 GPa, AFM fluctuations are revealed to be characterized by the stripe-type wavevector which remains the same for the two SC regions. Furthermore, the electronic state is found to change in character from non-Fermi liquid to Fermi liquid around the nematic QPT and persists up to $\sim$ 2.1 GPa. In addition, although the AFM fluctuations correlate with $T_{\rm c}$ in both SC states, demonstrating the importance of the AFM fluctuations for the appearance of SC in the system, we found that, when nematic order is absent, $T_{\rm c}$ is strongly correlated with the AFM fluctuations, whereas $T_{\rm c}$ weakly depends on the AFM fluctuations when nematic order is present. Our findings on FeSe$_{0.91}$S$_{0.09}$ were shown to be applied to the whole FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_{x}$ system and also provide a new insight into the relationship between AFM fluctuations and SC in Fe-based superconductors.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Hedgehog Spin-vortex Crystal Antiferromagnetic Quantum Criticality in CaK(Fe1-xNix)4As4 Revealed by NMR

Two ordering states, antiferromagnetism and nematicity, have been observed in most iron-based superconductors (SCs). In contrast to those SCs, the newly discovered SC CaK(Fe$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$)$_4$As$_4$ exhibits an antiferromagnetic (AFM) state, called hedgehog spin-vortex crystal structure, without nematic order, providing the opportunity for the investigation into the relationship between spin fluctuations and SC without any effects of nematic fluctuations. Our $^{75}$As nuclear magnetic resonance studies on CaK(Fe$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$)$_4$As$_4$ (0$\le x\le$ 0.049) revealed that CaKFe$_4$As$_4$ is located close to a hidden hedgehog SVC AFM quantum-critical point (QCP). The magnetic QCP without nematicity in CaK(Fe$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$)$_4$As$_4$ highlights the close connection of spin fluctuations and superconductivity in iron-based SCs. The advantage of stoichiometric composition also makes CaKFe$_4$As$_4$ an ideal platform for further detailed investigation of the relationship between magnetic QCP and superconductivity in iron-based SCs without disorder effects.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Antiferromagnetic order in CaK(Fe[1-x]Ni[x])4As4 and its interplay with superconductivity

The magnetic order in CaK(Fe[1-x]Ni[x])4As4 (1144) single crystals (x = 0.051 and 0.033) has been studied by neutron diffraction. We observe magnetic Bragg peaks associated to the same propagation vectors as found for the collinear stripe antiferromagnetic (AFM) order in the related BaFe2As2 (122) compound. The AFM state in 1144 preserves tetragonal symmetry and only a commensurate, non-collinear structure with a hedgehog spin-vortex crystal (SVC) arrangement in the Fe plane and simple AFM stacking along the c direction is consistent with our observations. The SVC order is promoted by the reduced symmetry in the FeAs layer in the 1144 structure. The long-range SVC order coexists with superconductivity, however, similar to the doped 122 compounds, the ordered magnetic moment is gradually suppressed with the developing superconducting order parameter. This supports the notion that both collinear and non-collinear magnetism and superconductivity are competing for the same electrons coupled by Fermi surface nesting in iron arsenide superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

Correlation between Superconductivity and Magnetic Fluctuations in Fe(Se1-xSx) Revealed by 77Se NMR

We present $^{77}$Se-NMR measurements on FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_x$ samples with sulfur content $x=0,9,15$ and $29\%$. Twinned nematic domains are observed in the NMR spectrum for all samples except $x=29\%$. The NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate shows that magnetic fluctuations are initially enhanced between $x=0\%$ and $x=9\%$, but are strongly suppressed for higher $x$ values. The observed behavior of the magnetic fluctuations parallels the superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ in these materials, providing strong evidence for the primary importance of magnetic fluctuations for superconductivity, despite the presence of nematic quantum criticality in this system.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2017

NMR Study of the New Magnetic Superconductor CaK(Fe$0.951Ni0.049)4As4: Microscopic Coexistence of Hedgehog Spin-vortex Crystal and Superconductivity

Coexistence of a new-type antiferromagnetic (AFM) state, the so-called hedgehog spin-vortex crystal (SVC), and superconductivity (SC) is evidenced by $^{75}$As nuclear magnetic resonance study on single-crystalline CaK(Fe$_{0.951}$Ni$_{0.049}$)$_4$As$_4$. The hedgehog SVC order is clearly demonstrated by the direct observation of the internal magnetic induction along the $c$ axis at the As1 site (close to K) and a zero net internal magnetic induction at the As2 site (close to Ca) below an AFM ordering temperature $T_{\rm N}$ $\sim$ 52 K. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/$T_1$ shows a distinct decrease below $T_{\rm c}$ $\sim$ 10 K, providing also unambiguous evidence for the microscopic coexistence. Furthermore, based on the analysis of the 1/$T_1$ data, the hedgehog SVC-type spin correlations are found to be enhanced below $T$ $\sim$ 150 K in the paramagnetic state. These results indicate the hedgehog SVC-type spin correlations play an important role for the appearance of SC in the new magnetic superconductor.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2017

NMR evidence for static local nematicity and its cooperative interplay with low-energy magnetic fluctuations in FeSe under pressure

We present $^{77}$Se-NMR measurements on single-crystalline FeSe under pressures up to 2 GPa. Based on the observation of the splitting and broadening of the NMR spectrum due to structural twin domains, we discovered that static, local nematic ordering exists well above the bulk nematic ordering temperature, $T_{\rm s}$. The static, local nematic order and the low-energy stripe-type antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations, as revealed by NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate measurements, are both insensitive to pressure application. These NMR results provide clear evidence for the microscopic cooperation between magnetism and local nematicity in FeSe.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Magnetic fluctuations and superconducting properties of CaKFe4As4 studied by 75As NMR

We report $^{75}$As nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies on a new iron-based superconductor CaKFe$_4$As$_4$ with $T_{\rm c}$ = 35 K. $^{75}$As NMR spectra show two distinct lines corresponding to the As(1) and As(2) sites close to the K and Ca layers, respectively, revealing that K and Ca layers are well ordered without site inversions. We found that nuclear quadrupole frequencies $ν_{\rm Q}$ of the As(1) and As(2) sites show an opposite temperature ($T$) dependence. Nearly $T$ independent behavior of the Knight shifts $K$ are observed in the normal state, and a sudden decrease in $K$ in the superconducting (SC) state clearly evidences spin-singlet Cooper pairs. $^{75}$As spin-lattice relaxation rates 1/$T_1$ show a power law $T$ dependence with different exponents for the two As sites. The isotropic antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations characterized by the wavevector ${\bf q}$ = ($π$, 0) or (0, $π$) in the single-iron Brillouin zone notation are revealed by 1/$T_1T$ and $K$ measurements. Such magnetic fluctuations are necessary to explain the observed temperature dependence of the $^{75}$As quadrupole frequencies, as evidenced by our first-principles calculations. In the SC state, 1/$T_1$ shows a rapid decrease below $T_{\rm c}$ without a Hebel-Slichter peak and decreases exponentially at low $T$, consistent with an $s^{\pm}$ nodeless two-gap superconductor.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2017

Hedgehog spin-vortex crystal stabilized in a hole-doped iron-based superconductor

Magnetism is widely considered to be a key ingredient of unconventional superconductivity. In contrast to cuprate high-temperature superconductors, antiferromagnetism in Fe-based superconductors (FeSCs) is characterized by a pair of magnetic propagation vectors. Consequently, three different types of magnetic order are possible. Of theses, only stripe-type spin-density wave (SSDW) and spin-charge-density wave (SCDW) orders have been observed. A realization of the proposed spin-vortex crystal (SVC) order is noticeably absent. We report a magnetic phase consistent with the hedgehog variation of SVC order in Ni- and Co-doped CaKFe4As4 based on thermodynamic, transport, structural and local magnetic probes combined with symmetry analysis. The exotic SVC phase is stabilized by the reduced symmetry of the CaKFe4As4 structure. Our results suggest that the possible magnetic ground states in FeSCs have very similar energies, providing an enlarged configuration space for magnetic fluctuations to promote high-temperature superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Effect of biaxial strain on the phase transitions of Ca(Fe1-xCox)2As2

We study the effect of applied strain as a physical control parameter for the phase transitions of Ca(Fe1-xCox)2As2 using resistivity, magnetization, x-ray diffraction and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. Biaxial strain, namely compression of the basal plane of the tetragonal unit cell, is created through firm bonding of samples to a rigid substrate, via differential thermal expansion. This strain is shown to induce a magneto-structural phase transition in originally paramagnetic samples; and superconductivity in previously non-superconducting ones. The magneto-structural transition is gradual as a consequence of using strain instead of pressure or stress as a tuning parameter.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Anisotropic thermodynamic and transport properties of single crystalline CaKFe$_{4}$As$_{4}$

Single crystalline, single phase CaKFe$_{4}$As$_{4}$ has been grown out of a high temperature, quaternary melt. Temperature dependent measurements of x-ray diffraction, anisotropic electrical resistivity, elastoresistivity, thermoelectric power, Hall effect, magnetization and specific heat, combined with field dependent measurements of electrical resistivity and field and pressure dependent measurements of magnetization indicate that CaKFe$_{4}$As$_{4}$ is an ordered, stoichiometric, Fe-based superconductor with a superconducting critical temperature, $T_c$ = 35.0 $\pm$ 0.2 K. Other than superconductivity, there is no indication of any other phase transition for 1.8 K $\leq T \leq$ 300 K. All of these thermodynamic and transport data reveal striking similarities to that found for optimally- or slightly over-doped (Ba$_{1-x}$K$_x$)Fe$_2$As$_2$, suggesting that stoichiometric CaKFe$_4$As$_4$ is intrinsically close to what is referred to as "optimal-doped" on a generalized, Fe-based superconductor, phase diagram. The anisotropic superconducting upper critical field, $H_{c\text{2}}(T)$, of CaKFe$_{4}$As$_{4}$ was determined up to 630 kOe. The anisotropy parameter $γ(T)=H_{c\text{2}}^{\perp}/H_{c\text{2}}^{\|}$, for $H$ applied perpendicular and parallel to the c-axis, decreases from $\simeq 2.5$ at $T_c$ to $\simeq 1.5$ at 25 K which can be explained by interplay of paramagnetic pairbreaking and orbital effects. The slopes of $dH_{c\text{2}}^{\|}/dT\simeq-44$ kOe/K and $dH_{c\text{2}}^{\perp}/dT \simeq-109$ kOe/K at $T_c$ yield an electron mass anisotropy of $m_{\perp}/m_{\|}\simeq 1/6$ and short Ginzburg-Landau coherence lengths $ξ_{\|}(0)\simeq 5.8 \textÅ$ and $ξ_{\perp}(0)\simeq 14.3 \textÅ$. The value of $H_{c\text{2}}^{\perp}(0)$ can be extrapolated to $\simeq 920$ kOe, well above the BCS paramagnetic limit.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Strong Correlations, Strong Coupling and s-wave Superconductivity in Hole-doped BaFe2As2 Single Crystals

We present a comprehensive study of the low-temperature heat capacity and thermal expansion of single crystals of the hole-doped Ba1-xKxFe2As2 series (0<x<1) and the end-members RbFe2As2 and CsFe2As2. A large increase of the Sommerfeld coefficient is observed with both decreasing band filling and isovalent substitution (K, Rb, Cs) revealing a strong enhancement of electron correlations and the possible proximity of these materials to a Mott insulator. This trend is well reproduced theoretically by our Density-Functional Theory + Slave-Spin (DFT+SS) calculations, confirming that 122-iron pnictides are effectively Hund metals, in which sizable Hund's coupling and orbital selectivity are the key ingredients for tuning correlations. We also find direct evidence for the existence of a coherence-incoherence crossover between a low-temperature heavy Fermi liquid and a highly incoherent high-temperature regime similar to heavy fermion systems. In the superconducting state, clear signatures of multiband superconductivity are observed with no evidence for nodes in the energy gaps, ruling out the existence of a doping-induced change of symmetry (from s to d-wave). We argue that the disappearance of the electron band in the range 0.4<x<1.0 is accompanied by a strong-to-weak coupling crossover and that this shallow band remains involved in the superconducting pairing, although its contribution to the normal state fades away. Differences between hole- and electron-doped BaFe2As2 series are emphasized and discussed in terms of strong pair breaking by potential scatterers beyond the Born limit.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Variation of transition temperatures and residual resistivity ratio in vapor-grown FeSe

The study of the iron-based superconductor FeSe has blossomed with the availability of high quality single crystals, obtained through flux/vapor-transport growth techniques below the structural transformation temperature of its tetragonal phase, T~450 C. Here, we report on the variation of sample morphology and properties due to small modifications in the growth conditions. A considerable variation of the superconducting transition temperature Tc, from 8.8 K to 3 K, which cannot be correlated with the sample composition, is observed. Instead, we point out a clear correlation between Tc and disorder, as measured by the residual resistivity ratio. Notably, the tetragonal-to-orthorhombic structural transition is also found to be quite strongly disorder dependent (Ts =72 - 90 K), and linearly correlated with Tc.

cond-mat.supr-con↗