arXiv subjects

Ian R. Fisher

Publications and source records attributed to Ian R. Fisher.

88 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

Ultrafast Optical Excitation of a Persistent Surface-State Population in the Topological Insulator Bi2Se3

Using femtosecond time- and angle- resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we investigated the nonequilibrium dynamics of the topological insulator Bi2Se3. We studied p-type Bi2Se3, in which the metallic Dirac surface state and bulk conduction bands are unoccupied. Optical excitation leads to a meta-stable population at the bulk conduction band edge, which feeds a nonequilibrium population of the surface state persisting for >10ps. This unusually long-lived population of a metallic Dirac surface state with spin texture may present a channel in which to drive transient spin-polarized currents.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2012

Divergent nematic susceptibility in an iron arsenide superconductor

Within the Landau paradigm of continuous phase transitions, ordered states of matter are characterized by a broken symmetry. Although the broken symmetry is usually evident, determining the driving force behind the phase transition is often a more subtle matter due to coupling between otherwise distinct order parameters. In this paper we show how measurement of the divergent nematic susceptibility of an iron pnictide superconductor unambiguously distinguishes an electronic nematic phase transition from a simple ferroelastic distortion. These measurements also reveal an electronic nematic quantum phase transition at the composition with optimal superconducting transition temperature.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

Doping dependence of femtosecond quasi-particle relaxation dynamics in Ba(Fe,Co)_2As_2 single crystals: possible evidence for normal state nematic fluctuations

We systematically investigate the photoexcited (PE) quasi-particle (QP) relaxation and low-energy electronic structure in electron doped Ba(Fe_{1-x}Co_{x})_{2}As_{2} single crystals as a function of Co doping, 0<= x <=0.11. The evolution of the photoinduced reflectivity transients with $x$ proceeds with no abrupt changes. In the orthorhombic spin-density-wave (SDW) state a bottleneck associated with a partial charge-gap opening is detected, similar to previous results in different SDW iron-pnictides. The relative charge gap magnitude decreases with increasing x. In the superconducting (SC) state an additional relaxational component appears due to a partial (or complete) destruction of the SC state proceeding on a sub-0.5-picosecond timescale. From the SC component saturation behavior the optical SC-state destruction energy, U_p/k_B=0.3 K/Fe, is determined near the optimal doping. The subsequent relatively slow recovery of the SC state indicates clean SC gaps. The T-dependence of the transient reflectivity amplitude in the normal state is consistent with the presence of a pseudogap in the QP density of states. The polarization anisotropy of the transients suggests that the pseudogap-like behavior might be associated with a broken point symmetry resulting from nematic electronic fluctuations persisting up to T~200 K at any x. The second moment of the Eliashberg function, obtained from the relaxation rate in the metallic state at higher temperatures, indicates a moderate electron phonon coupling, lambda <~0.3, that decreases with increasing doping.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2011

Widespread spin polarization effects in photoemission from topological insulators

High resolution spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (spin-ARPES) was performed on the three-dimensional topological insulator Bi$_2$Se$_3$ using a recently developed high-efficiency spectrometer. The topological surface state's helical spin structure is observed, in agreement with theoretical prediction. Spin textures of both chiralities, at energies above and below the Dirac point, are observed, and the spin structure is found to persist at room temperature. The measurements reveal additional unexpected spin polarization effects, which also originate from the spin-orbit interaction, but are well differentiated from topological physics by contrasting momentum and photon energy and polarization dependencies. These observations demonstrate significant deviations of photoelectron and quasiparticle spin polarizations. Our findings illustrate the inherent complexity of spin-resolved ARPES and demonstrate key considerations for interpreting experimental results.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2011

STM imaging of impurity resonances on Bi$_2$Se$_3$

In this paper we present detailed study of the density of states near defects in Bi$_2$Se$_3$. In particular, we present data on the commonly found triangular defects in this system. While we do not find any measurable quasiparticle scattering interference effects, we do find localized resonances, which can be well fitted by theory once the potential is taken to be extended to properly account for the observed defects. The data together with the fits confirm that while the local density of states around the Dirac point of the electronic spectrum at the surface is significantly disrupted near the impurity by the creation of low-energy resonance state, the Dirac point is not locally destroyed. We discuss our results in terms of the expected protected surface state of topological insulators.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Ambipolar Field Effect in Topological Insulator Nanoplates of (BixSb1-x)2Te3

Topological insulators represent a new state of quantum matter attractive to both fundamental physics and technological applications such as spintronics and quantum information processing. In a topological insulator, the bulk energy gap is traversed by spin-momentum locked surface states forming an odd number of surface bands that possesses unique electronic properties. However, transport measurements have often been dominated by residual bulk carriers from crystal defects or environmental doping which mask the topological surface contribution. Here we demonstrate (BixSb1-x)2Te3 as a tunable topological insulator system to manipulate bulk conductivity by varying the Bi/Sb composition ratio. (BixSb1-x)2Te3 ternary compounds are confirmed as topological insulators for the entire composition range by angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements and ab initio calculations. Additionally, we observe a clear ambipolar gating effect similar to that observed in graphene using nanoplates of (BixSb1-x)2Te3 in field-effect-transistor (FET) devices. The manipulation of carrier type and concentration in topological insulator nanostructures demonstrated in this study paves the way for implementation of topological insulators in nanoelectronics and spintronics.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

On the origin of non-monotonic doping dependence of the in-plane resistivity anisotropy in Ba(Fe$_{1-x}T_x$)$_2$As$_2$, $T$ = Co, Ni and Cu

The in-plane resistivity anisotropy has been measured for detwinned single crystals of Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ and Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Cu$_x$)$_2$As$_2$. The data reveal a non-monotonic doping dependence, similar to previous observations for Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$. Magnetotransport measurements of the parent compound reveal a non-linear Hall coefficient and a strong linear term in the transverse magnetoresistance. Both effects are rapidly suppressed with chemical substitution over a similar compositional range as the onset of the large in-plane resistivity anisotropy. It is suggested that the relatively small in-plane anisotropy of the parent compound in the spin density wave state is due to the presence of an isotropic, high mobility pocket of reconstructed Fermi surface. Progressive suppression of the contribution to the conductivity arising from this isotropic pocket with chemical substitution eventually reveals the underlying in-plane anisotropy associated with the remaining FS pockets.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2011

Rapid Surface Oxidation as a Source of Surface Degradation Factor for Bi2Se3

Bi2Se3 is a topological insulator with metallic surface states residing in a large bulk bandgap. It is believed that Bi2Se3 gets additional n-type doping after exposure to atmosphere, thereby reducing the relative contribution of surface states in total conductivity. In this letter, transport measurements on Bi2Se3 nanoribbons provide additional evidence of such environmental doping process. Systematic surface composition analyses by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveal fast formation and continuous growth of native oxide on Bi2Se3 under ambient conditions. In addition to n-type doping at the surface, such surface oxidation is likely the material origin of the degradation of topological surface states. Appropriate surface passivation or encapsulation may be required to probe topological surface states of Bi2Se3 by transport measurements.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2010

Local measurement of the superfluid density in the pnictide superconductor Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_{x}$)$_2$As$_2$ across the superconducting dome

We measure the penetration depth $λ_{ab}(T)$ in Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_{x}$)$_2$As$_2$ using local techniques that do not average over the sample. The superfluid density $ρ_s(T)\equiv1/λ_{ab}(T)^2$ has three main features. First, $ρ_s(T=0)$ falls sharply on the underdoped side of the dome. Second, $λ_{ab}(T)$ is flat at low $T$ at optimal doping, indicating fully gapped superconductivity, but varies more strongly in underdoped and overdoped samples, consistent with either a power law or a small second gap. Third, $ρ_s(T)$ varies steeply near $T_c$ for optimal and underdoping. These observations are consistent with an interplay between magnetic and superconducting phases.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Evidence for an electron nematic phase transition in underdoped iron pnictide superconductors

Electrical resistivity measurements of detwinned single crystals of the representative iron arsenide Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ reveal a dramatic in-plane anisotropy associated with the tetragonal-to-orthorhombic structural transition that precedes the onset of long-range antiferromagnetic order. These results indicate that the structural transition in this family of compounds is fundamentally electronic in origin.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Bulk Fermi surface coexistence with Dirac surface state in Bi$_2$Se$_3$: a comparison of photoemission and Shubnikov-de Haas measurements

Shubnikov de Haas (SdH) oscillations and Angle Resolved PhotoEmission Spectroscopy (ARPES) are used to probe the Fermi surface of single crystals of Bi2Se3. We find that SdH and ARPES probes quantitatively agree on measurements of the effective mass and bulk band dispersion. In high carrier density samples, the two probes also agree in the exact position of the Fermi level EF, but for lower carrier density samples discrepancies emerge in the position of EF. In particular, SdH reveals a bulk three-dimensional Fermi surface for samples with carrier densities as low as 10^17cm-3. We suggest a simple mechanism to explain these differences and discuss consequences for existing and future transport studies of topological insulators.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2010

Local measurement of the penetration depth in the pnictide superconductor Ba(Fe$_{0.95}$Co$_{0.05}$)$_2$As$_2$

We use magnetic force microscopy (MFM) and scanning SQUID susceptometry to measure the local superfluid density $ρ_{s}$ in Ba(Fe$_{0.95}$Co$_{0.05}$)$_2$As$_2$ single crystals from 0.4 K to the critical temperature $T_c=18.5$ K. We observe that the penetration depth $λ$ varies about ten times more slowly with temperature than previously published, with a dependence that can be well described by a clean two-band fully gapped model. We demonstrate that MFM can measure the important and hard-to-determine absolute value of $λ$, as well as obtain its temperature dependence and spatial homogeneity. We find $ρ_{s}$ to be uniform despite the highly disordered vortex pinning.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

In-plane electronic anisotropy in underdoped Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ revealed by detwinning in a magnetic field

We present results of angle-dependent magnetoresistance measurements and direct optical images of underdoped Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ which reveal partial detwinning by action of a 14T magnetic field. Driven by a substantial magneto-elastic coupling, this result provides evidence for an electronic origin of the lattice distortion in underdoped iron pnictides. The observed anisotropy in these partially detwinned samples implies a substantial in-plane electronic anisotropy in the broken symmetry state, with a smaller resistivity along the antiferromagnetic ordering direction.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Enhanced superfluid density on twin boundaries in Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2

Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscopy shows stripes of increased diamagnetic susceptibility in underdoped, but not overdoped, single crystals of Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2. These stripes of increased diamagnetic susceptibility are consistent with enhanced superfluid density on twin boundaries. Individual vortices avoid pinning on or crossing the stripes, and prefer to travel parallel to them. These results indicate a relationship between superfluid density, local strain, and frustrated magnetism, and demonstrate two mechanisms for enhancing critical currents.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Evidence for Nodal Superconductivity in LaFePO from Scanning SQUID Susceptometry

We measure changes in the penetration depth $λ$ of the $T_c \approx 6$ K superconductor LaFePO. In the process scanning SQUID susceptometry is demonstrated as a technique for accurately measuring {\it local} temperature-dependent changes in $λ$, making it ideal for studying early or difficult-to-grow materials. $λ$ of LaFePO is found to vary linearly with temperature from 0.36 to $\sim$2 K, with a slope of 143$\pm$15 Å/K, suggesting line nodes in the superconducting order parameter. The linear dependence up to $\sim T_c/3$ is similar to the cuprate superconductors, indicating well-developed nodes.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2008

Determination of the phase diagram of the electron doped superconductor Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$

Systematic measurements of the resistivity, heat capacity, susceptibility and Hall coefficient are presented for single crystal samples of the electron-doped superconductor Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$. These data delineate an $x-T$ phase diagram in which the single magnetic/structural phase transition that is observed for undoped BaFe$_2$As$_2$ at 134 K apparently splits into two distinct phase transitions, both of which are rapidly suppressed with increasing Co concentration. Superconductivity emerges for Co concentrations above $x \sim 0.025$, and appears to coexist with the broken symmetry state for an appreciable range of doping, up to $x \sim 0.06$. The optimal superconducting transition temperature appears to coincide with the Co concentration at which the magnetic/structural phase transitions are totally suppressed, at least within the resolution provided by the finite step size between crystals prepared with different doping levels. Superconductivity is observed for a further range of Co concentrations, before being completely suppressed for $x \sim 0.018$ and above. The form of this $x-T$ phase diagram is suggestive of an association between superconductivity and a quantum critical point arising from suppression of the magnetic and/or structural phase transitions.

cond-mat.supr-con↗