Inelastic neutron scattering study on the resonance mode in an optimally doped superconductor LaFeAsO0.92_{0.92}F0.08_{0.08}

An optimally doped iron-based superconductor LaFeAsO$_{0.92}$F$_{0.08}$ with $T_c = 29$ K has been studied by inelastic powder neutron scattering. The magnetic excitation at $Q=1.15$ \AA$^{-1}$ is enhanced below $T_c$, leading to a peak at $E_{res}\sim13$ meV as the resonance mode, in addition to the formation of a gap at low energy below the crossover energy $\Delta_{c}\sim10 meV$. The peak energy at $Q=1.15$ \AA$^{-1}$ corresponds to $5.2 k_B T_c$ in good agreement with the other values of resonance mode observed in the various iron-based superconductors, even in the high-$T_c$ cuprates. Although the phonon density of states has a peak at the same energy as the resonance mode in the present superconductor, the $Q$-dependence is consistent with the resonance being of predominately magnetic origin.Comment: 4 pages, 5 Postscript figure

Microwave Penetration Depth and Quasiparticle Conductivity in PrFeAsO_1-y Single Crystals : Evidence for a Full-Gap Superconductor

In-plane microwave penetration depth $\lambda_{ab}$ and quaiparticle conductivity at 28 GHz are measured in underdoped single crystals of the Fe-based superconductor PrFeAsO$_{1-y}$ ($T_c\approx 35$ K) by using a sensitive superconducting cavity resonator. $\lambda_{ab}(T)$ shows flat dependence at low temperatures, which is incompatible with the presence of nodes in the superconducting gap $\Delta({\bf k})$. The temperature dependence of the superfluid density demonstrates that the gap is non-zero ($\Delta/k_BT_c\gtrsim 1.6$) all over the Fermi surface. The microwave conductivity below $T_c$ exhibits an enhancement larger than the coherence peak, reminiscent of high-$T_c$ cuprate superconductors.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Lett. For related results of hole-doped 122 system, see arXiv:0810.350

Antiferromagnetic Excitations and Van Hove Singularities in YBa2_2Cu3_3O6+x_{6+x}

We show that in quasi-two-dimensional $d$-wave superconductors Van Hove singularities close to the Fermi surface lead to novel magnetic quasi-particle excitations. We calculate the temperature and doping dependence of dynamical magnetic susceptibility for YBCO and show that the proposed excitations are in agreement with inelastic neutron scattering experiments. In addition, the values of the gap parameter and in-plane antiferromagnetic coupling are much smaller than usually believed.Comment: REVTeX, 4 pages + 3 PostScript (compressed) figures; to appear in Phys. Rev. B (Rap. Comm.

Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering in single-crystal superconducting PrFeAsO0.7

Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra at the Fe K-edge were measured for a single crystal of the iron oxypnictide superconductor PrFeAsO0.7 (Tc=42 K). They disclose a weak, broad feature centered around 4.5 eV energy loss, which is slightly resonantly enhanced when the incident energy is tuned in the vicinity of the 4p white line. We tentatively ascribe it to the charge-transfer excitation between As 4p and Fe 3d.Comment: 2 pages, 2 figure