We report measurements of ac magnetic susceptibility $chi_{ac}$ and de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations in KFe$_2$As$_2$ under high pressure up to 24.7 kbar. The pressure dependence of the superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ changes from
negative to positive across $P_c sim 18$ kbar as previously reported. The ratio of the upper critical field to $T_c$, i.e, $B_{c2} / T_c$, is enhanced above $P_c$, and the shape of $chi_{ac}$ vs field curves qualitatively changes across $P_c$. DHvA oscillations smoothly evolve across $P_c$ and indicate no drastic change in the Fermi surface up to 24.7 kbar. Three dimensionality increases with pressure, while effective masses show decreasing trends. We suggest a crossover from a nodal to a full-gap $s$ wave as a possible explanation.
We have observed hysteresis in superconducting resistive transition curves of Ba$_{0.07}$K$_{0.93}$Fe$_2$As$_2$ ($T_csim$8 K) below about 1 K for in-plane fields. The hysteresis is not observed as the field is tilted away from the $ab$ plane by 20$^{
circ}$ or more. The temperature and angle dependences of the upper critical field indicate a strong paramagnetic effect for in-plane fields. We suggest that the hysteresis can be attributed to a first-order superconducting transition due to the paramagnetic effect. Magnetic torque data are also shown.
Centimeter sized platelet single crystals of KFe2As2 were grown using a self-flux method. An encapsulation technique using commercial stainless steel container allowed the stable crystal growth lasting for more than 2 weeks. Ternary K-Fe-As systems w
ith various starting compositions were examined to determine the optimal growth conditions. Employment of KAs flux led to the growth of large single crystals with the typical size of as large as 15 mm x 10 mm x 0.4 mm. The grown crystals exhibit sharp superconducting transition at 3.4 K with the transition width 0.2 K, as well as the very large residual resistivity ratio exceeding 450, evidencing the good sample quality.
We have successfully synthesized (Ca4Al2O6-y)(Fe2Pn2) (Pn = As and P) (Al-42622(Pn)) using high-pressure synthesis technique. Al-42622(Pn) exhibit superconductivity for both Pn = As and P with the transition temperatures of 28.3 K and 17.1 K, respect
ively. The a-lattice parameters of Al-42622(Pn) (a = 3.713 {AA} and 3.692 {AA} for Pn = As and P, respectively) are smallest among the iron-pnictide superconductors. Correspondingly, Al-42622(As) has the smallest As-Fe-As bond angle (102.1 {deg}) and the largest As distance from the Fe planes (1.500 {AA}).
We report the iron (Fe) isotope effect on the transition temperature (Tc) in the oxygen-deficient SmFeAsO_{1-y}, a 50 K-class Fe-based superconductor. For the optimally-doped samples with Tc = 54 K, change of the Fe average atomic mass (MFe) causes a
negligibly small shift in Tc, with the Fe isotope coefficient (alphaFe) as small as -0.024 pm 0.015. This result contrasts with the finite, inverse isotope shift observed in optimally-doped (Ba,K)Fe2As2, indicating that the contribution of the electron-phonon interaction markedly differs between these two Fe-based high-Tc superconductors.
The lattice dynamics of Ba1-xKxFe2As2 (x = 0.00, 0.27) have been studied by inelastic X-ray scattering measurement at room temperature. K doping induces the softening and broadening of phonon modes in the energy range E = 10-15 meV. Analysis with a B
orn-von Karman force-constant model indicates that the softening results from reduced interatomic force constants around (Ba,K) sites following the displacement of divalent Ba by monovalent K. The phonon broadening may be explained by the local distortions induced by the K substitution. Extra phonon modes are observed around the wave vector q = (0.5,0,0) at E = 16.5 meV for the x = 0.27 sample. These modes may arise either from the local disorder induced by K doping or from electron-phonon coupling.
We have succeeded in synthesizing single-phase polycrystalline samples of oxygen-deficient oxypnictide superconductors, LnFeAsO1-y (Ln: lanthanide elements) with Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb and Dy using high-pressure synthesis technique. It is foun
d out that the synthesis pressure is the most important parameter for synthesizing single-phase samples, in particular for the heavier Ln?s, such as Tb and Dy. The lattice parameters systematically decrease with the atomic number of Ln, reflecting the shrinkage of Ln ionic radius. For the lighter Ln?s (La, Ce, Pr, Nd), Tc increases monotonously with decreasing the lattice parameters from 26K for Ln=La to 54K for Ln=Nd, then stays at the constant value around 53K for the heavier counterpart (Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb and Dy). The results suggest the intimate relationship between the crystal structural parameters and the superconductivity on the one hand, as well as the possible existence of the inherent maximum Tc on the other, which is located around 50 K in the LnFeAsO based materials.
