We report on a study of the superconducting order parameter in Fe(Te$_{1-x}$Se$_{x}$) thin films (with different Se contents: x=0.3, 0.4, 0.5) by means of point-contact Andreev-reflection spectroscopy (PCARS). The PCARS spectra show reproducible evid
ence of multiple structures, namely two clear conductance maxima associated to a superconducting gap of amplitude $Delta_E simeq 2.75 k_B T_c$ and additional shoulders at higher energy that, as we show, are the signature of the strong interaction of charge carriers with a bosonic mode whose characteristic energy coincides with the spin-resonance energy. The details of some PCARS spectra at low energy suggest the presence of a smaller and not easily discernible gap of amplitude $Delta_H simeq 1.75 k_B T_c$. The existence of this gap and its amplitude are confirmed by PCARS measurements in Fe(Te$_{1-x}$Se$_{x}$) single crystals. The values of the two gaps $Delta_E$ and $Delta_H$, once plotted as a function of the local critical temperature $T_c^A$, turn out to be in perfect agreement with the results obtained by various experimental techniques reported in literature.
The dependence of the superconducting gaps in epitaxial Ba(Fe_{1-x}Co_{x})_2As_2 thin films on the nominal doping x (0.04 leq x leq 0.15) was studied by means of point-contact Andreev-reflection spectroscopy. The normalized conductance curves were we
ll fitted by using the 2D Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk model with two nodeless, isotropic gaps -- although the possible presence of gap anisotropies cannot be completely excluded. The amplitudes of the two gaps Delta_{S} and Delta_{L} show similar monotonic trends as a function of the local critical temperature T_{c}^{A} (measured in the same point contacts) from 25 K down to 8 K. The dependence of the gaps on x is well correlated to the trend of the critical temperature, i.e. to the shape of the superconducting region in the phase diagram. When analyzed within a simple three-band Eliashberg model, this trend turns out to be compatible with a mechanism of superconducting coupling mediated by spin fluctuations, whose characteristic energy scales with T_{c} according to the empirical law Omega_{0}= 4.65*k_{B}*T_{c}, and with a total electron-boson coupling strength lambda_{tot}= 2.22 for x leq 0.10 (i.e. up to optimal doping) that slightly decreases to lambda_{tot}= 1.82 in the overdoped samples (x = 0.15).
Point-contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy (PCAR) has proven to be one of the most powerful tools in the investigation of superconductors, where it provides information on the order parameter (OP), a fundamental property of the superconducting sta
te. In the past 20 years, successive improvements of the models used to analyze the spectra have continuously extended its capabilities, making it suited to study new superconductors with exotic properties such as anisotropic, nodal and multiple OPs. In Fe-based superconductors, the complex compound- and doping-dependent Fermi surface and the predicted sensitivity of the OP to fine structural details present unprecedent challenges for this technique. Nevertheless, we show here that PCAR measurements in Fe-based superconductors carried out so far have already greatly contributed to our understanding of these materials, despite some apparent inconsistencies that can be overcome if a homogeneous treatment of the data is used. We also demonstrate that, if properly extended theoretical models for Andreev reflection are used, directional PCAR spectroscopy can provide detailed information not only on the amplitude and symmetry of the OPs, but also on the nature of the pairing boson, and even give some hints about the shape of the Fermi surface.
