No Arabic abstract
Experiments on the iron-pnictide superconductors appear to show some materials where the ground state is fully gapped, and others where low-energy excitations dominate, possibly indicative of gap nodes. Within the framework of a 5-orbital spin fluctuation theory for these systems, we discuss how changes in the doping, the electronic structure or interaction parameters can tune the system from a fully gapped to nodal sign-changing gap with s-wave ($A_{1g}$) symmetry ($s^pm$). In particular we focus on the role of the hole pocket at the $(pi,pi)$ point of the unfolded Brillouin zone identified as crucial to the pairing by Kuroki {it et al.}, and show that its presence leads to additional nesting of hole and electron pockets which stabilizes the isotropic $s^pm$ state. The pockets contribution to the pairing can be tuned by doping, surface effects, and by changes in interaction parameters, which we examine. Analytic expressions for orbital pairing vertices calculated within the RPA fluctuation exchange approximation allow us to draw connections between aspects of electronic structure, interaction parameters, and the form of the superconducting gap.
We present a comprehensive study of the evolution of the nematic electronic structure of FeSe using high resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), quantum oscillations in the normal state and elastoresistance measurements. Our high resolution ARPES allows us to track the Fermi surface deformation from four-fold to two-fold symmetry across the structural transition at ~87 K which is stabilized as a result of the dramatic splitting of bands associated with dxz and dyz character. The low temperature Fermi surface is that a compensated metal consisting of one hole and two electron bands and is fully determined by combining the knowledge from ARPES and quantum oscillations. A manifestation of the nematic state is the significant increase in the nematic susceptibility as approaching the structural transition that we detect from our elastoresistance measurements on FeSe. The dramatic changes in electronic structure cannot be explained by the small lattice effects and, in the absence of magnetic fluctuations above the structural transition, points clearly towards an electronically driven transition in FeSe stabilized by orbital-charge ordering.
We report ac magnetic susceptibility and dc magnetization measurements on the superconducting ferromagnet UCoGe (with superconducting and Curie temperatures of $T_{{rm SC}} sim 0.5$~K and $T_{{rm Curie}} sim 2.5$~K, respectively). In the normal, ferromagnetic state ($T_{{rm SC}} < T < T_{{rm Curie}}$), the magnetization curve exhibits a hysteresis loop similar to that of a regular itinerant ferromagnet. Upon lowering the temperature below $T_{{rm SC}}$, the spontaneous magnetization is unchanged, but the hysteresis is markedly enhanced. Even deeply inside the superconducting state, ferromagnetism is not completely shielded, and there is no Meissner region, a magnetic field region of $H < H_{rm c1}$ (a lower critical field). From these results, we suggest that UCoGe is the first material in which ferromagnetism robustly survives in the superconducting state and a spontaneous vortex state without the Meissner state is realized.
Understanding superconductivity requires detailed knowledge of the normal electronic state from which it emerges. A nematic electronic state that breaks the rotational symmetry of the lattice can potentially promote unique scattering relevant for superconductivity. Here, we investigate the normal transport of superconducting FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_x$ across a nematic phase transition using high magnetic fields up to 69 T to establish the temperature and field-dependencies. We find that the nematic state is an anomalous non-Fermi liquid, dominated by a linear resistivity at low temperatures that can transform into a Fermi liquid, depending on the composition $x$ and the impurity level. Near the nematic end point, we find an extended temperature regime with $T^{1.5}$ resistivity. The transverse magnetoresistance inside the nematic phase has as a $H^{1.55}$ dependence over a large magnetic field range and it displays an unusual peak at low temperatures inside the nematic phase. Our study reveals anomalous transport inside the nematic phase, driven by the subtle interplay between the changes in the electronic structure of a multi-band system and the unusual scattering processes affected by large magnetic fields and disorder
Nickel-based complex oxides have served as a playground for decades in the quest for a copper-oxide analog of the high-temperature (high-Tc) superconductivity. They may provide key points towards understanding the mechanism of the high-Tc and an alternative route for a room-temperature superconductor. The recent discovery of superconductivity in the infinite-layer nickelate thin films has put this pursuit to an end. Having complete control in material preparation and a full understanding of the properties and electronic structures becomes the center of gravity of current research in nickelates. Thus far, material synthesis remains challenging. The demonstration of perfect diamagnetism is still missing, and understanding the role of the interface and bulk to the superconducting properties is still lacking. Here, we synthesized high-quality Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2 thin films with different thicknesses and investigated the interface and strain effects on the electrical, magnetic and optical properties. The perfect diamagnetism is demonstrated, confirming the occurrence of superconductivity in the thin films. Unlike the thick films in which the normal state Hall coefficient (RH) changes signs from negative to positive as the temperature decreases, the RH of the films thinner than 6.1-nm remains negative at the whole temperature range below 300 K, suggesting a thickness-driven band structure modification. The X-ray spectroscopy reveals the Ni-O hybridization nature in doped finite-layer nickelates, and the hybridization is enhanced as the thickness decreases. Consistent with band structure calculations on nickelate/SrTiO3 interfaces, the interface and strain effect induce the dominating electron-like band in the ultrathin film, thus causing the sign-change of the RH.
The 2008 discovery of superconducting ferropnictides with Tc~26K-56K introduced a new family of materials into the category of high Tc superconductors. The ongoing project of understanding the superconducting mechanism and pairing symmetry has already revealed a complicated and often contradictory underlying picture of the structural and magnetic properties. There is an almost unprecedented sensitivity of the calculated magnetism and Fermi surface to structural details that prohibits correspondence with experiment. Furthermore, experimental probes of the order parameter symmetry are in surprisingly strong disagreement, even considering the relative immaturity of the field. Here we outline all of the various and seemingly contradictory evidences, both theoretical and experimental, and show that they can be rectified if the system is assumed to be highly magnetic with a spin density wave that is well-defined but with magnetic twin and anti-phase boundaries that are dynamic on the time-scale of experiments. Under this assumption, we find that our calculations can accurately reproduce even very fine details of the structure, and a natural explanation for the temperature separation of structural and magnetic transitions is provided. Thus, our theory restores agreement between experiment and theory in crucial areas, making further cooperative progress possible on both fronts. We believe that fluctuating magnetic domains will be an essential component of unravelling the interplay between magnetic interactions and superconductivity in these newest high Tc superconductors.