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Rhea Kappenberger

Publications and source records attributed to Rhea Kappenberger.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Anomalous field evolution of the mixed-state linewidth in the second superconducting dome of LaFeAsO$_{1-x}M_x$ ($M={\rm F,H}$)

We report a transverse-field muon-spin rotation/relaxation ($\mu$SR) study of the internal-field distribution in the mixed state of LaFeAsO$_{0.89}$F$_{0.11}$ and LaFeAsO$_{0.75}$H$_{0.25}$, representative of the first (SC1) and second (SC2) superconducting domes of the LaFeAsO$_{1-x}M_x$ ($M={\rm F,H}$) family, respectively. Below the superconducting transition temperature $T_{\rm c}$, the linewidth of the internal-field distribution increases in both samples, indicating the formation of a vortex lattice. Above $T_{\rm c}$, the linewidth remains field dependent and increases approximately linearly with field, consistent with broadening of the powder spectrum caused by an anisotropic Knight shift. After subtraction of this normal-state contribution, the superconducting linewidth $\sigma_{\rm sc}$ exhibits qualitatively different field dependences in the two samples. At 4K, the SC1 ($x_{\rm F}=0.11$) sample shows the expected monotonic decrease with increasing field, whereas the SC2 ($x_{\rm H}=0.25$) sample develops a pronounced local maximum near 3T. A contour representation of $\sigma_{\rm sc}(T,H)$ further reveals a ridge of local maxima whose field position, $H_{\sigma,\max}(T)$, shifts to lower fields upon warming and disappears near $T_{\rm c}$. The anomalous field evolution observed in the SC2 sample is consistent with an additional field-induced contribution associated with enhanced Pauli-paramagnetic effects, highlighting the distinct electronic character of the two superconducting domes.

cond-mat.supr-con

Strong surface termination dependence of the electronic structure of polar superconductor LaFeAsO revealed by nano-ARPES

The electronic structures of the iron-based superconductors have been intensively studied by using angleresolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). A considerable amount of research has been focused on the LaFeAsO family, showing the highest transition temperatures, where previous ARPES studies have found much larger Fermi surfaces than bulk theoretical calculations would predict. The discrepancy has been attributed to the presence of termination-dependent surface states. Here, using photoemission spectroscopy with a sub-micron focused beam spot (nano-ARPES) we have successfully measured the electronic structures of both the LaO and FeAs terminations in LaFeAsO. Our data reveal very different band dispersions and core-level spectra for different surface terminations, showing that previous macro-focus ARPES measurements were incomplete. Our results give direct evidence for the surface-driven electronic structure reconstruction in LaFeAsO, including formation of the termination-dependent surface states at the Fermi level. This new experimental technique, which we have shown to be very powerful when applied to this prototypical compound, can now be used to study various materials with different surface terminations.

cond-mat.supr-con

Ubiquitous enhancement of nematic fluctuations across the phase diagram of iron based superconductors probed by the Nernst effect

The role of nematic fluctuations for unconventional superconductivity has been subject of intense discussions for many years. In iron-based superconductors, the most established probe for electronic-nematic fluctuations, i.e. the elastoresistivity seems to imply that superconductivity is reinforced by electronic-nematic fluctuations, since the elastoresistivity amplitude peaks at or close to optimal $T_C$. However, on the over-doped side of the superconducting dome, the diminishing elastoresistivity suggests a negligible importance in the mechanism of superconductivity. Here we introduce the Nernst coefficient as a genuine probe for electronic nematic fluctuations, and we show that the amplitude of the Nernst coefficient tracks the superconducting dome of two prototype families of iron-based superconductors, namely Rh-doped $BaFe_{2}As_{2}$ and Co-doped $LaFeAsO$. Our data thus provide fresh evidence that in these systems nematic fluctuations foster the superconductivity throughout the phase diagram.

cond-mat.supr-con

Revisiting the phase diagram of LaFe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$AsO on single crystals by thermodynamic methods

In this work we revisit the phase diagram of Co-doped LaFeAsO using single crystals and thermodynamic methods. From magnetic susceptibility studies we track the doping evolution of the antiferromagnetic phase, revealing a continuous suppression of $T_\mathrm{N}$ up to 5$\%$ Co doping. In order to study the evolution of the so-called nematic phase, the temperature dependence of the lengths changes along the $a$ and $b$ orthorhombic directions, $ΔL/L_0$, was determined by high-resolution capacitance dilatometry. The results clearly show a gradual reduction of the orthorhombic distortion $δ$ and of $T_\mathrm{S}$ with increasing Co content up to 4.5$\%$, while it is completely suppressed for 7.5$\%$ Co. Bulk superconductivity was found in a small doping region around 6$\%$ Co content, while both $T_\mathrm{c}$ and the superconducting volume fraction rapidly drop in the neighbouring doping regime. Ultimately, no microscopic coexistence between the superconducting and magnetic phases can be assessed within our resolution limit, in sharp contrast with other iron-pnictide families, e.g., electron- and hole-doped BaFe$_2$As$_2$.

cond-mat.supr-con

Mapping out the spin fluctuations in Co-doped LaFeAsO single crystals by NMR

We determine the phase diagram of LaFe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$AsO single crystals by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Up to a nominal doping of $x=0.03$, it follows the phase diagram for F-doped polycrystals. Above $x=0.03$, the F-doped samples become superconducting, whereas for Co-doping the structural and magnetic transitions can be observed up to $x=0.042$, and superconductivity occurs only for higher doping levels and with reduced transition temperatures. For dopings up to $x=0.056$, we find evidence for short-range magnetic order. By means of relaxation-rate measurements, we map out the magnetic fluctuations that reveal the interplay of nematicity and magnetism. Above the nematic ordering, the spin fluctuations in LaFe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$AsO are identical to those in Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$, suggesting that nematicity in LaFeAsO is a result of the fluctuating spin density wave as well.

cond-mat.supr-con

Strain-derivative of thermoelectric properties: a sensitive probe for nematicity

The nematic instability of iron-based superconductors is an undebatable ingredient of the physics of iron-based superconductors. Yet, its origin remains enigmatic as it involves a fermiology with an intricate interplay of lattice-, orbital- and spin- degrees of freedom. It is well known that thermoelectric transport is an excellent probe for revealing even subtle signatures of instabilities and pertinent fluctuations. In this paper, we report a strong response of the thermoelectric transport properties of two underdoped 1111 iron-based superconductors to a vanishingly small strain. By introducing the strain-derivative of the Seebeck and the Nernst coefficients, we provide a novel description of the nematic order parameter, proving the existence of an anisotropic Peltier-tensor beside an anisotropic conductivity-tensor. Our measurements reveal that the transport nematic phenomenology is the result of the combined effect of both an anisotropic scattering time and Fermi surface distortions, pointing out that in a realistic description, abreast of the spin-fluctuations also the orbital character is a fundamental ingredient. In addition, we show that nematic fluctuations universally relax in a Curie-Weiss fashion above T_S in all the elasto-transport measurements and we provide evidences that nematicity must be band-selective.

cond-mat.supr-con

Evolution of the nematic susceptibility in LaFe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$AsO

The identification of electronic nematicity across series of iron-based superconductors raises the question of its relationship with superconductivity and other ordered states. Here, we report a systematic elastoresistivity study on LaFe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$AsO single crystals, which have well separated structural and magnetic transition lines. All crystals show Curie-Weiss-like nematic susceptibility in the tetragonal phase. The extracted nematic temperature is monotonically suppressed upon cobalt doping, and changes sign around the optimal doping level, indicating a possible nematic quantum critical point beneath the superconducting dome. The amplitude of nematic susceptibility shows a peculiar double-peak feature. This could be explained by a combined effect of different contributions to the nematic susceptibility, which are amplified at separated doping levels of LaFe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$AsO.

cond-mat.supr-con

A unified phase diagram of F-doped LaFeAsO by means of NMR and NQR parameters

We present $^{75}$As Nuclear Magnetic and Quadrupole Resonance results (NMR, NQR) on a new set of LaFeAsO$_{1-x}$F$_x$ polycrystalline samples. Improved synthesis conditions led to more homogenized samples with better control of the fluorine content. The structural$\equiv$nematic, magnetic, and superconducting transition temperatures have been determined by NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate and AC susceptibility measurements. The so-determined phase diagram deviates from the published one especially for low F-doping concentrations. However, if the doping level is determined from the NQR spectra, both phase diagrams can be reconciled. The absence of bulk coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity and a nanoscale separation into low-doping-like and high-doping-like regions have been confirmed. Additional frequency dependent intensity, spin-spin, and spin-lattice relaxation rate measurements on underdoped samples at the boundary of magnetism and superconductivity indicate that orthorhombicity and magnetism originate from the low-doping-like regions, and superconductivity develops at first in the high-doping-like regions.

cond-mat.supr-con

Spectroscopic evidence of nematic fluctuations in LiFeAs

The role of nematic fluctuations in the pairing mechanism of iron-based superconductors is frequently debated. Here we present a novel method to reveal such fluctuations by identifying energy and momentum of the corresponding nematic boson through the detection of a boson-assisted resonant amplification of Friedel oscillations. Using Fourier-transform scanning tunneling spectroscopy, we observe for the unconventional superconductor LiFeAs strong signatures of bosonic states at momentum $q\sim 0$ and energy $Ω\approx8$~meV. We show that these bosonic states survive in the normal conducting state, and, moreover, that they are in perfect agreement with well-known strong above-gap anomalies in the tunneling spectra. Attributing these small-$q$ boson modes to nematic fluctuations we provide the first spectroscopic approach to the nematic boson in an unconventional superconductor.

cond-mat.str-el

Microscopic phase diagram of LaFeAsO single crystals under pressure

We investigated LaFeAsO single crystals by means of synchrotron Mössbauer spectroscopy under pressures up to 7.5 GPa and down to 13 K and provide a microscopic phase diagram. We found a continuous suppression of the magnetic hyperfine field with increasing pressure and it completely vanishes at $\sim$ 7.5 GPa which is in contrast to the behavior in polycrystalline samples where the magnetic order vanishes at $\sim$ 20 GPa. The different behavior of the polycrystalline samples might be due to As-vacancies. Our results are in qualitative agreement with density functional theory calculations where a reduction of the magnetic moment with increasing pressure was found. We found that among different samples at ambient pressure the magnetic phase transition temperature as well as the low-temperature magnetic hyperfine field decrease with increasing unit cell volume.

cond-mat.supr-con

Suppression of the magnetic order in CeFeAsO: non-equivalence of hydrostatic and chemical pressure

We present a detailed investigation of the electronic properties of CeFeAsO under chemical (As by P substitution) and hydrostatic pressure by means of in-house and synchrotron Mössbauer spectroscopy. The Fe magnetism is suppressed due to both pressures and no magnetic order was observed above a P-substitution level of 40% or 5.2 GPa hydrostatic pressure. We compared both pressures and found that the isovalent As by P substitution change the crystallographic and electronic properties differently than hydrostatic pressure.

cond-mat.supr-con