arXiv subjects

G. L. Sun

Publications and source records attributed to G. L. Sun.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2011

Intense paramagnon excitations in a large family of high-temperature superconductors

In the search for the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity, intense research has been focused on the evolution of the spin excitation spectrum upon doping from the antiferromagnetic insulating to the superconducting states of the cuprates. Because of technical limitations, the experimental investigation of doped cuprates has been largely focused on low-energy excitations in a small range of momentum space. Here we use resonant inelastic x-ray scattering to show that a large family of superconductors, encompassing underdoped YBa$_2$Cu$_4$O$_8$ and overdoped YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7}$, exhibits damped spin excitations (paramagnons) with dispersions and spectral weights closely similar to those of magnons in undoped cuprates. %The results are in excellent agreement with the spin excitations obtained by exact diagonalization of the $\bf t-J$ Hamiltonian on finite-sized clusters. The comprehensive experimental description of this surprisingly simple spectrum permits quantitative tests of magnetic Cooper pairing models. A numerical solution of the Eliashberg equations for the magnetic spectrum of YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7}$ reproduces its superconducting transition temperature within a factor of two, a level of agreement comparable to Eliashberg theories of conventional superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Very strong intrinsic supercurrent carrying ability and vortex avalanches in (Ba,K)Fe2As2 superconducting single crystals

We report that single crystals of (Ba,K)Fe2As2 with Tc = 32 K have a pinning potential, U0, as high as 10^4 K, with U0 showing very little field depend-ence. In addition, the (Ba,K)Fe2As2 single crystals become isotropic at low temperatures and high magnetic fields, resulting in a very rigid vortex lattice, even in fields very close to Hc2. The rigid vortices in the two dimensional (Ba,K)Fe2As2 distinguish this compound from 2D high Tc cuprate superconductors with 2D vortices, and make it being capable of cearrying very high critical current.Flux jumping due to high Jc was also observed in large samples at low temperatures.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Self-energy effects and electron-phonon coupling in Fe-As superconductors

We report on Raman scattering experiments of the undoped SrFe2As2 and superconducting Sr0.85K0.15Fe2As2 (Tc=28K) and Ba0.72K0.28Fe2As2 (Tc=32K) single crystals. The frequency and linewidth of the B1g mode at 210 cm-1 exhibits an appreciable temperature dependence induced by the superconducting and spin density wave transitions. We give estimates of the electron-phonon coupling related to this renormalization. In addition, we observe a pronounced quasi-elastic Raman response for the undoped compound, suggesting persisting magnetic fluctuations to low temperatures. In the superconducting state the renormalization of an electronic continuum is observed with a threshold energy of 61cm-1.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Phonon anomalies in pure and underdoped R{1-x}K{x}Fe{2}As{2} (R = Ba, Sr) investigated by Raman light scattering

We present a detailed temperature dependent Raman light scattering study of optical phonons in Ba{1-x}K{x}Fe{2}As{2} (x ~ 0.28, superconducting Tc ~ 29 K), Sr{1-x}K{x}Fe{2}As{2} (x ~ 0.15, Tc ~ 29 K) and non-superconducting BaFe{2}As{2} single crystals. In all samples we observe a strong continuous narrowing of the Raman-active Fe and As vibrations upon cooling below the spin-density-wave transition Ts. We attribute this effect to the opening of the spin-density-wave gap. The electron-phonon linewidths inferred from these data greatly exceed the predictions of ab-initio density functional calculations without spin polarization, which may imply that local magnetic moments survive well above Ts. A first-order structural transition accompanying the spin-density-wave transition induces discontinuous jumps in the phonon frequencies. These anomalies are increasingly suppressed for higher potassium concentrations. We also observe subtle phonon anomalies at the superconducting transition temperature Tc, with a behavior qualitatively similar to that in the cuprate superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Anisotropic spin fluctuations and multiple superconducting gaps in hole-doped Ba_0.7K_0.3Fe_2As_2: NMR in a single crystal

We report the first ^{75}As-NMR study on a single crystal of the hole-doped iron-pnictide superconductor Ba_{0.7}K_{0.3}Fe_2As_{2} (T_c = 31.5 K). We find that the Fe antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations are anisotropic and are weaker compared to underdoped copper-oxides or cobalt-oxide superconductors. The spin lattice relaxation rate 1/T_1 decreases below T_c with no coherence peak and shows a step-wise variation at low temperatures, which is indicative of multiple superconducting gaps, as in the electron-doped Pr(La)FeAsO$_{1-x}$F$_{x}$. Furthermore, no evidence was obtained for a microscopic coexistence of a long-range magnetic and superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Transport properties and the anisotropy of Ba_{1-x}K_xFe_2As_2 single crystals in normal and superconducting states

The transport and superconducting properties of Ba_{1-x}K_xFe_2As_2 single crystals with T_c = 31 K were studied. Both in-plane and out-of plane resistivity was measured by modified Montgomery method. The in-plane resistivity for all studied samples, obtained in the course of the same synthesis, is almost the same, unlike to the out-of plane resistivity, which differ considerably. We have found that the resistivity anisotropy γ=ρ_c /ρ_{ab} is almost temperature independent and lies in the range 10-30 for different samples. This, probably, indicates on the extrinsic nature of high out-of-plane resistivity, which may appear due to the presence of the flat defects along Fe-As layers in the samples. This statement is supported by comparatively small effective mass anisotropy, obtained from the upper critical field measurements, and from the observation of the so-called "Friedel transition", which indicates on the existence of some disorder in the samples in c-direction.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Fermi surface of Ba{1-x}KxFe2As2 as probed by angle-resolved photoemission

Here we apply high resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) using a wide excitation energy range to probe the electronic structure and the Fermi surface topology of the Ba1-xKxFe2As2 (Tc = 32 K) superconductor. We find significant deviations in the low energy band structure from that predicted in calculations. A set of Fermi surface sheets with unexpected topology is detected at the Brillouin zone boundary. At the X-symmetry point the Fermi surface is formed by a shallow electron-like pocket surrounded by four hole-like pockets elongated in G-X and G-Y directions.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Two-gap superconductivity in Ba_1-xK_xFe_2As_2: A complementary study of the magnetic penetration depth by \muSR and ARPES

We investigate the magnetic penetration depth λin superconducting Ba_1-xK_xFe_2As_2 (T_c\simeq32K) with muon-spin rotation (\muSR) and angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES). Using \muSR, we find the penetration-depth anisotropy γ_λ=λ_c/λ_{ab} and the second-critical-field anisotropy γ_{H_c2} to show an opposite T-evolution below T_c. This dichotomy resembles the situation in the two-gap superconductor MgB_2. A two-gap scenario is also suggested by an inflection point in the in-plane penetration depth λ_ab around 7K. The complementarity of \muSR and ARPES allows us to pinpoint the values of the two gaps and to arrive to a remarkable agreement between the two techniques concerning the full T-evolution of λ_ab. This provides further support for the described scenario and establishes ARPES as a tool to assess macroscopic properties of the superconducting condensate.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Iron pnictides: Single crystal growth and effect of doping on structural, transport and magnetic properties

We demonstrate the preparation of large, free standing iron pnictide single crystals with a size up to 20 x 10 x 1 mm3 using solvents in zirconia crucibles under argon atmosphere. Transport and magnetic properties are investigated to study the effect of potassium doping on the structural and superconducting property of the compounds. The spin density wave (SDW) anomaly at Ts ~138 K in BaFe2As2 single crystals from self-flux shifts to Ts ~85 K due to Sn solvent growth. We show direct evidence for an incorporation of Sn on the Fe site. The electrical resistivity data show a sharp superconducting transition temperature Tc~38.5 K for the single crystal of Ba0.68K0.32Fe2As2. A nearly 100% shielding fraction and bulk nature of the superconductivity for the single crystal were confirmed by magnetic susceptibility data. A sharp transition Tc~25 K occurred for the single crystal of Sr0.85K0.15Fe2As2. There is direct evidence for a coexistence of the SDW and superconductivity in the low doping regime of Sr1-xKxFe2As2 single crystals. Structural implications of the doping effects as well as the coexistence of the two order parameters are discussed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Suppression of the structural phase transition and lattice softening in slightly underdoped Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe2As2 with electronic phase separation

We present x-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and neutron diffraction measurements on the slightly underdoped iron pnictide superconductor Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe2As2, Tc = 32K. Below the magnetic transition temperature Tm = 70K, both techniques show an additional broadening of the nuclear Bragg peaks, suggesting a weak structural phase transition. However, macroscopically the system does not break its tetragonal symmetry down to 15 K. Instead, XRPD patterns at low temperature reveal an increase of the anisotropic microstrain proportionally in all directions. We associate this effect with the electronic phase separation, previously observed in the same material, and with the effect of lattice softening below the magnetic phase transition. We employ density functional theory to evaluate the distribution of atomic positions in the presence of dopant atoms both in the normal and magnetic states, and to quantify the lattice softening, showing that it can account for a major part of the observed increase of the microstrain.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Momentum-resolved superconducting gap in the bulk of Ba$_{1-x}$K$_{x}$Fe$_2$As$_2$ from combined ARPES and $μ$SR measurements

Here we present a calculation of the temperature-dependent London penetration depth, $λ(T)$, in Ba$_{1-x}$K$_{x}$Fe$_2$As$_2$ (BKFA) on the basis of the electronic band structure [1,2] and momentum-dependent superconducting gap [3] extracted from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) data. The results are compared to the direct measurements of $λ(T)$ by muon spin rotation ($μ$SR) [4]. The value of $λ(T=0)$, calculated with \emph{no} adjustable parameters, equals 270 nm, while the directly measured one is 320 nm; the temperature dependence $λ(T)$ is also easily reproduced. Such agreement between the two completely different approaches allows us to conclude that ARPES studies of BKFA are bulk-representative. Our review of the available experimental studies of the superconducting gap in the new iron-based superconductors in general allows us to state that all hole-doped of them bear two nearly isotropic gaps with coupling constants $2Δ/k_{\rm B}T_{\rm c}=2.5\pm1.5$ and $7\pm2$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Momentum dependence of the superconducting gap in Ba$_{1-x}$K$_{x}$Fe$_2$As$_2$

The precise momentum dependence of the superconducting gap in the iron-arsenide superconductor with Tc = 32K (BKFA) was determined from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) via fitting the distribution of the quasiparticle density to a model. The model incorporates finite lifetime and experimental resolution effects, as well as accounts for peculiarities of BKFA electronic structure. We have found that the value of the superconducting gap is practically the same for the inner Gamma-barrel, X-pocket, and "blade"-pocket, and equals 9 meV, while the gap on the outer Gamma-barrel is estimated to be less than 4 meV, resulting in 2Delta/kT_c=6.8 for the large gap, and 2Delta/kT_c<3 for the small gap. A large (77 \pm 3%) non-superconducting component in the photoemission signal is observed below T_c. Details of gap extraction from ARPES data are discussed in Appendix.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2008

(pi,pi)-electronic order in iron arsenide superconductors

The distribution of valence electrons in metals usually follows the symmetry of an ionic lattice. Modulations of this distribution often occur when those electrons are not stable with respect to a new electronic order, such as spin or charge density waves. Electron density waves have been observed in many families of superconductors[1-3], and are often considered to be essential for superconductivity to exist[4]. Recent measurements[5-9] seem to show that the properties of the iron pnictides[10, 11] are in good agreement with band structure calculations that do not include additional ordering, implying no relation between density waves and superconductivity in those materials[12-15]. Here we report that the electronic structure of Ba1-xKxFe2As2 is in sharp disagreement with those band structure calculations[12-15], instead revealing a reconstruction characterized by a (pi,pi) wave vector. This electronic order coexists with superconductivity and persists up to room temperature.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2008

Electronic phase separation in the slightly underdoped iron pnictide superconductor Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2)

Here we present a combined study of the slightly underdoped novel pnictide superconductor Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2) by means of X-ray powder diffraction, neutron scattering, muon spin rotation (muSR), and magnetic force microscopy (MFM). Commensurate static magnetic order sets in below Tm ~ 70 K as inferred from the emergence of the magnetic (1 0 -3) reflection in the neutron scattering data and from the observation of damped oscillations in the zero-field-muSR asymmetry. Transverse-field muSR below Tc shows a coexistence of magnetically ordered and non-magnetic states, which is also confirmed by MFM imaging. We explain such coexistence by electronic phase separation into antiferromagnetic and superconducting/normal state regions on a lateral scale of several tens of nanometers. Our findings indicate that such mesoscopic phase separation can be considered an intrinsic property of some iron pnictide superconductors.

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