We performed systematic studies of the combined effects of annealing/quenching temperature ({itshape T}$_{A/Q}$) and T = Ni, Rh substitution ({itshape x}) on the physical properties of Ca(Fe$_{1-x}$T$_{x}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$. We constructed two-dimension
al, {itshape T}$_{A/Q}$-{itshape x} phase diagrams for the low-temperature states for both substitutions to map out the relations between ground states and compared them with that of Co-substitution. Ni-substitution, which brings one more extra electron per substituted atom and suppresses the {itshape c}-lattice parameter at roughly the same rate as Co-substitution, leads to a similar parameter range of antiferromagnetic/orthorhombic in the {itshape T}$_{A/Q}$-{itshape x} space as that found for Co-substitution, but has the parameter range for superconductivity shrunk (roughly by a factor of two). This result is similar to what is found when Co- and Ni-substituted BaFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ are compared. On the other hand, Rh-substitution, which brings the same amount of extra electrons as does Co-substitution, but suppresses the {itshape c}-lattice parameter more rapidly, has a different phase diagram. The collapsed tetragonal phase exists much more pervasively, to the exclusion of the normal, paramagnetic, tetragonal phase. The range of antiferromagnetic/orthorhombic phase space is noticeably reduced, and the superconducting region is substantially suppressed, essentially truncated by the collapsed tetragonal phase. In addition, we found that whereas for Co-substitution there was no difference between phase diagrams for samples annealed for one or seven days, for Ni- and Rh- substitutions a second, reversible, effect of annealing was revealed by seven-day anneals.
Many of the iron pnictides have strongly anisotropic normal-state characteristics, important for the exotic magnetic and superconducting behavior these materials exhibit. Yet, the origin of the observed anisotropy is unclear. Electronically driven ne
maticity has been suggested, but distinguishing this as an independent degree of freedom from magnetic and structural orders is difficult, as these couple together to break the same tetragonal symmetry. Here we use time-resolved polarimetry to reveal critical nematic fluctuations in unstrained Ba(Fe_(1-x)Co_x)_2As_2. The femtosecond anisotropic response, which arises from the two-fold in-plane anisotropy of the complex refractive index, displays a characteristic two-step recovery absent in the isotropic response. The fast recovery appears only in the magnetically ordered state, whereas the slow one persists in the paramagnetic phase with a critical divergence approaching the structural transition temperature. The dynamics also reveal a gigantic magnetoelastic coupling that far exceeds electron-spin and electron-phonon couplings, opposite to conventional magnetic metals.
The low temperature, magnetic phase transition in LuFe2Ge2 is thought to be associated with itinerant magnetism. The effects of Y and Sc substitutions on the Lu site, as well as Ru and Co substitutions on the Fe site, on the low temperature magnetic
phase transition of LuFe2Ge2 compound have been studied in single crystals via microscopic, thermodynamic and transport measurements. On one hand, Co substitution suppresses the transition below our base temperature of 2 K even at our lowest substitution level. On the other hand, Sc substitution enhances the transition temperature, and Y or Ru substitution suppresses the transition to lower temperature. Phase diagrams for Y, Sc and Ru substitutions have been constructed and the possibility of a unifying, composite diagram is discussed.
