arXiv subjects

A. Thaler

Publications and source records attributed to A. Thaler.

43 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

Unconventional pairing in the iron arsenide superconductors

We use magnetic long range order as a tool to probe the Cooper pair wave function in the iron arsenide superconductors. We show theoretically that antiferromagnetism and superconductivity can coexist in these materials only if Cooper pairs form an unconventional, sign-changing state. The observation of coexistence in Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_{x}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$ then demonstrates unconventional pairing in this material. The detailed agreement between theory and neutron diffraction experiments, in particular for the unusual behavior of the magnetic order below $T_{c}$, demonstrates the robustness of our conclusions. Our findings strongly suggest that superconductivity is unconventional in all members of the iron arsenide family.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Uniaxial strain detwinning of CaFe2As2 and BaFe2As2: optical and transport study

TThe parent compounds of iron-arsenide superconductors, $A$Fe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ ($A$=Ca, Sr, Ba), undergo a tetragonal to orthorhombic structural transition at a temperature $T_{\mathrm{TO}}$ in the range 135 to 205K depending on the alkaline earth element. Below $T_{\mathrm{TO}}$ the free standing crystals split into equally populated structural domains, which mask intrinsic, in-plane, anisotropic properties of the materials. Here we demonstrate a way of mechanically detwinning CaFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ and BaFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$. The detwinning is nearly complete, as demonstrated by polarized light imaging and synchrotron $X$-ray measurements, and reversible, with twin pattern restored after strain release. Electrical resistivity measurements in the twinned and detwinned states show that resistivity, $ρ$, decreases along the orthorhombic $a_{o}$-axis but increases along the orthorhombic $b_{o}$-axis in both compounds. Immediately below $T_{\mathrm{TO}}$ the ratio $ρ_{bo}/ ρ_{ao}$ = 1.2 and 1.5 for Ca and Ba compounds, respectively. Contrary to CaFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$, BaFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ reveals an anisotropy in the nominally tetragonal phase, suggesting that either fluctuations play a larger role above $T_{\mathrm{TO}}$ in BaFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ than in CaFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$, or that there is a higher temperature crossover or phase transition.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Suppression of antiferromagnetic order and orthorhombic distortion in superconducting Ba(Fe0.961Rh0.039)2As2

Neutron diffraction and high-resolution x-ray diffraction studies find that, similar to the closely related underdoped Ba(Fe[1-x]Cox)2As2 superconducting compounds, Ba(Fe0.961Rh0.039)2As2 shows strong evidence of competition and coexistence between superconductivity and antiferromagnetic order below the superconducting transition, Tc = 14 K. The transition temperatures for both the magnetic order and orthorhombic distortion are in excellent agreement with those inferred from resistivity measurements, and both order parameters manifest a distinct decrease in magnitude below Tc. These data suggest that the strong interaction between magnetism and superconductivity is a general feature of electron-doped Ba(Fe[1-x]TMx)2As2 superconductors (TM = Transition Metal).

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Dispersion of the superconducting spin resonance in underdoped and antiferromagnetic Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2

Inelastic neutron scattering measurements have been performed on underdoped Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 (x = 4.7%) where superconductivity and long-range antiferromagnetic (AFM) order coexist. The broad magnetic spectrum found in the normal state develops into a magnetic resonance feature below TC that has appreciable dispersion along c-axis with a bandwidth of 3-4 meV. This is in contrast to the optimally doped x = 8.0% composition, with no long-range AFM order, where the resonance exhibits a much weaker dispersion [see Lumsden et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 107005 (2009)]. The results suggest that the resonance dispersion arises from interlayer spin correlations present in the AFM ordered state.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Anomalous suppression of the orthorhombic distortion in superconducting Ba[Fe(1-x)Cox]2As2

High-resolution x-ray diffraction measurements reveal an unusually strong response of the lattice to superconductivity in Ba[Fe(1-x)Cox]2As2. The orthorhombic distortion of the lattice is suppressed and, for Co-doping near x = 0.063, the orthorhombic structure evolves smoothly back to a tetragonal structure. We propose that the coupling between orthorhombicity and superconductivity is indirect and arises due to the magneto-elastic coupling, in the form of emergent nematic order, and the strong competition between magnetism and superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Structural phase transition in Ba(Fe0.973Cr0.027)2As2 single crystals

We present thermodynamic, structural and transport measurements on Ba(Fe0.973Cr0.027)2As2 single crystals. All measurements reveal sharp anomalies at ~ 112 K. Single crystal x-ray diffraction identifies the structural transition as a first order, from the high-temperature tetragonal I4/mmm to the low-temperature orthorhombic Fmmm structure, in contrast to an earlier report.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2009

Phase diagrams of Ba(Fe(1-x)TMx)2As2 (TM = Rh, Pd) single crystals

Single crystalline Ba(Fe(1-x)TMx)2As2 (TM = Rh, Pd) series have been grown and characterized by structural, thermodynamic and transport measurements. These measurements show that the structural/magnetic phase transitions, found in pure BaFe2As2 at 134 K, are suppressed monotonically by the doping and that superconductivity can be stablized over a dome-like region. Temperature-composition (T-x) phase diagrams based on electrical transport and magnetization measurements are constructed and compared to those of the Ba(Fe(1-x)TMx)2As2 (TM = Co, Ni) series. Despite the generic difference between 3d and 4d shells and the specific, conspicuous differences in the changes to the unit cell parameters, the effects of Rh doping are exceptionally similar to the effects of Co doping and the effects of Pd doping are exceptionally similar to the effects of Ni doping. These data show that whereas the structural / antiferromagnetic phase transition temperatures can be parameterized by x and the superconducting transition temperature can be parameterized by some combination of x and e, the number of extra electrons associated with the TM doping, the transition temperatures of 3d- and 4d- doped BaFe2As2 can not be simply parameterized by the changes in the unit cell dimensions or their ratios.

cond-mat.supr-con↗