New Superconductivity Dome in LaFeAsO$_{1-x}$F$_{x}$ Accompanied by Structural Transition


Abstract in English

High temperature superconductivity is often found in the vicinity of antiferromagnetism. This is also true in LaFeAsO$_{1-x}$F$_{x}$ ($x leq$ 0.2) and many other iron-based superconductors, which leads to proposals that superconductivity is mediated by fluctuations associated with the nearby magnetism. Here we report the discovery of a new superconductivity dome without low-energy magnetic fluctuations in LaFeAsO$_{1-x}$F$_{x}$ with 0.25$leq x leq$0.75, where the maximal critical temperature $T_c$ at $x_{opt}$ = 0.5$sim$0.55 is even higher than that at $x leq$ 0.2. By nuclear magnetic resonance and Transmission Electron Microscopy, we show that a C4 rotation symmetry-breaking structural transition takes place for $x>$ 0.5 above $T_c$. Our results point to a new paradigm of high temperature superconductivity.

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