The suppression of electron correlations in the collapsed tetragonal phase of CaFe2As2 under ambient pressure demonstrated by 75As NMR-NQR measurements

The static and the dynamic spin correlations in the low temperature collapsed tetragonal and the high temperature tetragonal phase in CaFe2As2 have been investigated by 75As nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) measurements. Through the temperature (T) dependence of the nuclear spin lattice relaxation rates (1/T1) and the Knight shifts, although stripe-type antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin correlations are realized in the high temperature tetragonal phase, no trace of the AFM spin correlations can be found in the non-superconducting, low temperature, collapsed tetragonal (cT) phase. Given that there is no magnetic broadening in 75As NMR spectra, together with the T-independent behavior of magnetic susceptibility (x) and the T dependence of 1/T1Tx, we conclude that Fe spin correlations are completely quenched statically and dynamically in the non-superconducting cT phase in CaFe2As2.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PR

Local superconducting density of states of ErNi2B2C

We present local tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy measurements at low temperatures in single crystalline samples of the magnetic superconductor ErNi2B2C. The electronic local density of states shows a striking departure from s-wave BCS theory with a finite value at the Fermi level, which amounts to half of the normal phase density of states.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy in the superconductor LaSb2

We present very low temperature (0.15 K) scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy experiments in the layered superconductor LaSb$_2$. We obtain topographic microscopy images with surfaces showing hexagonal and square atomic size patterns, and observe in the tunneling conductance a superconducting gap. We find well defined quasiparticle peaks located at a bias voltage comparable to the weak coupling s-wave BCS expected gap value (0.17 meV). The amount of states at the Fermi level is however large and the curves are significantly broadened. We find T$_c$ of 1.2 K by following the tunneling conductance with temperature.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Signatures of quantum criticality in the thermopower of Ba(Fe(1-x)Co(x))2As2

We demonstrate that the thermopower (S) can be used to probe the spin fluctuations (SFs) in proximity to the quantum critical point (QCP) in Fe-based superconductors. The sensitivity of S to the entropy of charge carriers allows us to observe an increase of S/T in Ba(Fe(1-x)Co(x))2As2 close to the spin-density-wave (SDW) QCP. This behavior is due to the coupling of low-energy conduction electrons to two-dimensional SFs, similar to heavy-fermion systems. The low-temperature enhancement of S/T in the Co substitution range 0.02 < x < 0.1 is bordered by two Lifshitz transitions, and it corresponds to the superconducting region, where a similarity between the electron and non-reconstructed hole pockets exists. The maximal S/T is observed in proximity to the commensurate-to-incommensurate SDW transition, for critical x_c ~ 0.05, close to the highest superconducting T_c. This analysis indicates that low-T thermopower is influenced by critical spin fluctuations which are important for the superconducting mechanism

NMR Study of the New Magnetic Superconductor CaK(Fe$0.951Ni0.049)4As4: Microscopic Coexistence of Hedgehog Spin-vortex Crystal and Superconductivity

Coexistence of a new-type antiferromagnetic (AFM) state, the so-called hedgehog spin-vortex crystal (SVC), and superconductivity (SC) is evidenced by $^{75}$As nuclear magnetic resonance study on single-crystalline CaK(Fe$_{0.951}$Ni$_{0.049}$)$_4$As$_4$. The hedgehog SVC order is clearly demonstrated by the direct observation of the internal magnetic induction along the $c$ axis at the As1 site (close to K) and a zero net internal magnetic induction at the As2 site (close to Ca) below an AFM ordering temperature $T_{\rm N}$ $\sim$ 52 K. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/$T_1$ shows a distinct decrease below $T_{\rm c}$ $\sim$ 10 K, providing also unambiguous evidence for the microscopic coexistence. Furthermore, based on the analysis of the 1/$T_1$ data, the hedgehog SVC-type spin correlations are found to be enhanced below $T$ $\sim$ 150 K in the paramagnetic state. These results indicate the hedgehog SVC-type spin correlations play an important role for the appearance of SC in the new magnetic superconductor.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. B rapid communicatio

Effects of mixed rare earth occupancy on the low temperature properties of (R, R',R''...)Ni2Ge2 single crystals

Temperature and applied magnetic field dependent magnetization measurements on 34 single crystalline samples of (R, R',R''...)Ni2Ge2 compounds (R, R', R'', etc. being primarily Gd-Lu, Y), were made. These measurements reveal that, despite extremes in local moment anisotropy, the average de Gennes parameter is a remarkably good predictor of the paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic ordering temperature. In addition, the pronounced metamagnetic phase transitions seen in the low temperature phase of TbNi2Ge2 are found to be remarkably robust to high substitution levels of Gd and 25% substitutions of other heavy rare earths

Magnetic ordering in GdNi2B2C revisited by resonant x-ray scattering: evidence for the double-q model

Recent theoretical efforts aimed at understanding the nature of antiferromagnetic ordering in GdNi2B2C predicted double-q ordering. Here we employ resonant elastic x-ray scattering to test this theory against the formerly proposed, single-q ordering scenario. Our study reveals a satellite reflection associated with a mixed-order component propagation wave vector, viz., (q_a,2q_b,0) with q_b = q_a approx= 0.55 reciprocal lattice units, the presence of which is incompatible with single-q ordering but is expected from the double-q model. A (3q_a,0,0) wave vector (i.e., third-order) satellite is also observed, again in line with the double-q model. The temperature dependencies of these along with that of a first-order satellite are compared with calculations based on the double-q model and reasonable qualitative agreement is found. By examining the azimuthal dependence of first-order satellite scattering, we show the magnetic order to be, as predicted, elliptically polarized at base temperature and find the temperature dependence of the "out of a-b plane" moment component to be in fairly good agreement with calculation. Our results provide qualitative support for the double-q model and thus in turn corroborate the explanation for the "magnetoelastic paradox" offered by this model.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Alternating magnetic anisotropy of Li2_2(Li1−xTx_{1-x}T_x)N with TT = Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni

Substantial amounts of the transition metals Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni can be substituted for Li in single crystalline Li$_2$(Li$_{1-x}T_x$)N. Isothermal and temperature-dependent magnetization measurements reveal local magnetic moments with magnitudes significantly exceeding the spin-only value. The additional contributions stem from unquenched orbital moments that lead to rare-earth-like behavior of the magnetic properties. Accordingly, extremely large magnetic anisotropies have been found. Most notably, the magnetic anisotropy alternates as easy-plane $\rightarrow$ easy-axis $\rightarrow$ easy-plane $\rightarrow$ easy-axis when progressing from $T$ = Mn $\rightarrow$ Fe $\rightarrow$ Co $\rightarrow$ Ni. This behavior can be understood based on a perturbation approach in an analytical, single-ion model. The calculated magnetic anisotropies show a surprisingly good agreement with the experiment and capture the basic features observed for the different transition metals.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, published as PRB Rapid Communication, Fig. 3 update