Spin density wave anomaly at 140 K in the ternary iron arsenide BaFe2As2

The ternary iron arsenide BaFe2As2 with the tetragonal ThCr2Si2-type structure exhibits a spin density wave (SDW) anomaly at 140 K, very similar to LaFeAsO, the parent compound of the iron arsenide superconductors. BaFe2As2 is a poor Pauli-paramagnetic metal and undergoes a structural and magnetic phase transition at 140 K, accompanied by strong anomalies in the specific heat, electrical resistance and magnetic susceptibility. In the course of this transition, the space group symmetry changes from tetragonal (I4/mmm) to orthorhombic (Fmmm). 57Fe Moessbauer spectroscopy experiments show a single signal at room temperature and full hyperfine field splitting below the phase transition temperature (5.2 T at 77 K). Our results suggest that BaFe2As2 can serve as a new parent compound for oxygen-free iron arsenide superconductors.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, submitted to PR

Local moments and symmetry breaking in metallic PrMnSbO

We report a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of the layered antimonide PrMnSbO which is isostructural to the parent phase of the iron pnictide superconductors. We find linear resistivity near room temperature and Fermi liquid-like T^{2} behaviour below 150 K. Neutron powder diffraction shows that unfrustrated C-type Mn magnetic order develops below \sim 230 K, followed by a spin-flop coupled to induced Pr order. At T \sim 35 K, we find a tetragonal to orthorhombic (T-O) transition. First principles calculations show that the large magnetic moments observed in this metallic compound are of local origin. Our results are thus inconsistent with either the itinerant or frustrated models proposed for symmetry breaking in the iron pnictides. We show that PrMnSbO is instead a rare example of a metal where structural distortions are driven by f-electron degrees of freedom

YPdSn and YPd2Sn: Structure, 89Y solid state NMR and 119Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy

The stannides YPdSn and YPd2Sn were synthesized by high-frequency melting of the elements in sealed tantalum tubes. Both structures were refined on the basis of single crystal X-ray diffractometer data: TiNiSi type, Pnma, a=715.4(1), b=458.8(1), c=789.1(1) pm, wR2=0.0461, 510 F2 values, 20 variables for YPdSn and MnCu2Al type, Fm3¯m, a=671.44(8), wR2=0.0740, 55 F2 values, 5 parameters for YPd2Sn. The yttrium atoms in the new stannide YPdSn are coordinated by two tilted Pd3Sn3 hexagons (ordered AlB2 superstructure). In the Heusler phase YPd2Sn each yttrium atom has octahedral tin coordination and additionally eight palladium neighbors. The cubic site symmetry of yttrium is reflected in the 119Sn Mössbauer spectrum which shows no quadrupole splitting. In contrast, YPdSn shows a single signal at δ=1.82(1) mm/s subjected to quadrupole splitting of ΔEQ=0.93(1) mm/s. Both compounds have been characterized by high-resolution 89Y solid state NMR spectroscopy, which indicates the presence of strong Knight shifts. The spectrum of YPd2Sn is characterized by an unusually large linewidth, suggesting the presence of a Knight shift distribution reflecting local disordering effects. The range of 89Y Knight shifts of several binary and ternary intermetallic yttrium compounds is briefly discussed.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaf

Structure and properties of the 5.5 K antiferromagnet EuAu2Ge2

A well crystallized sample of EuAti(2)Ge(2) was synthesized by arc-melting of the elements. The structure was refined on the basis of single crystal X-ray diffractometer data: ThCr2Si2 type, 14/mmm, a = 447.3(1), c = 1034.0(4) pm, wR2 = 0.0575, 148 F-2 values and 9 variables. The gold atoms have tetrahedral germanium coordination (261 pm Au-Ge). These AuGe4/4 tetrahedra share four common edges, leading to layers which are connected via Ge-Ge bonds (247 pm). The europium atoms fill cages of coordination number 16 within the [Au2Ge2](delta-) polyanion. Temperature dependent susceptibility measurements show a magnetic moment of 7.79(1)mu(B)/formula unit. Together with the Eu-151 Mossbauer spectroscopic data (isomer shift of -11.43 mm/s at 77K), the magnetic data point to stable divalent europium. EuAu2Ge2 orders antiferromagnetically at T-N1 = 5.5(1) K, followed by a spin-reorientation at T-N2 = 3.5 K. A metamagnetic step occurs around 20 kOe in the 4 K magnetization isotherm

Competition of magnetism and superconductivity in underdoped (Ba1-xKx)Fe2As2

Polycrystalline samples of underdoped (Ba1-xKx)Fe2As2 (x<=0.4) were synthesized and studied by x-ray powder diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, specific heat and 57Fe-Moessbauer-spectroscopy. The structural phase transition from tetragonal to orthorhombic lattice symmetry shifts towards lower temperatures, becomes less pronounced at x = 0.1-0.2 and is no longer present at x = 0.3. Bulk superconductivity is observed in all samples except (Ba0.9K0.1)Fe2As2 by resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Specific heat data show a broad SDW phase transition in (Ba0.9K0.1)Fe2As2, which is hardly discernible in (Ba0.8K0.2)Fe2As2. No SDW anomaly is found in the specific heat of optimally doped (Ba0.6K0.4)Fe2As2, where C changes by 0.1 J/K at Tc = 37.3 K. 57Fe-Moessbauer-spectra show full magnetic hyperfine field splitting, indicative of antiferromagnetic ordering at 4.2 K in samples with x = 0-0.2, but zero magnetic hyperfine field in samples with x = 0.3. The spectra of (Ba0.9K0.1)Fe2As2 and (Ba0.8K0.2)Fe2As2 in the phase transition regions are temperature-dependent superpositions of magnetic and non-magnetic components, caused by inhomogeneous potassium distribution. Our results suggest the co-existence of AF magnetic ordering and superconductivity without mesoscopic phase separation in the underdoped region and show unambiguously homogeneous superconducting phases close to optimal doping. This is in contrast to recently reported results about single crystal (Ba1-xKx)Fe2As2.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figure