Microscopic Study of the Superconducting State of the Iron Pnictide RbFe_2As_2

A study of the temperature and field dependence of the penetration depth \lambda of the superconductor RbFe_2As_2 (T_c=2.52 K) was carried out by means of muon-spin rotation measurements. In addition to the zero temperature value of the penetration depth \lambda(0)=267(5) nm, a determination of the upper critical field B_c2(0)=2.6(2) T was obtained. The temperature dependence of the superconducting carrier concentration is discussed within the framework of a multi-gap scenario. Compared to the other "122" systems which exhibit much higher Fermi level, a strong reduction of the large gap BCS ratio 2\Delta/k_B T_c is observed. This is interpreted as a consequence of the absence of interband processes. Indications of possible pair-breaking effect are also discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Pressure cycle of superconducting Cs0.8Fe2Se2: a transport study

We report measurements of the temperature and pressure dependence of the electrical resistivity of single crystalline iron-based chalcogenide Cs0.8Fe2Se2. In this material superconductivity Tc~30K develops from a normal state with extremely large resistivity. At ambient pressure a large "hump" in the resistivity is observed around 200K. Under pressure, the resistivity decreases by two orders of magnitude, concomitant with a sudden Tc suppression around p~8GPa. Even at 9GPa a metallic resistivity state is not recovered, and the {\rho}(T) "hump" is still detected. A comparison of the data measured upon increasing and decreasing the external pressure leads us to suggest that superconductivity is not related to this hump

Muon-spin rotation measurements of the magnetic penetration depth in the Fe-based superconductor Ba_(1-x)Rb_(x)Fe2As2

Measurements of the magnetic penetration depth (lambda) in the Fe-based superconductor Ba_(1-x)Rb_xFe_2As_2 (x=0.3, 0.35, 0.4) were carried out using the muon-spin rotation muSR technique. The temperature dependence of lambda is well described by a two-gap s+s-wave scenario with a small gap Delta_1 = 1 - 3 mev and a large gap Delta_2 = 7 - 9 mev. By combining the present data with those obtained for RbFe_2As_2 a decrease of the BCS ratio 2Delta_2/(k_B)(T_c) with increasing Rb content x is observed. On the other hand, the BCS ratio 2Delta_1/(k_B)(T_c) is almost independent of x. In addition, the contribution of Delta_1 to the superfluid density is found to increase with x. These results are discussed in the light of the suppression of interband processes upon hole doping.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Superconductivity and magnetism in RbxFe2-ySe2: Impact of thermal treatment on mesoscopic phase separation

An extended study of the superconducting and normal-state properties of various as-grown and post-annealed RbxFe2-ySe2 single crystals is presented. Magnetization experiments evidence that annealing of RbxFe2-ySe2 at 413 K, well below the onset of phase separation Tp=489 K, neither changes the magnetic nor the superconducting properties of the crystals. In addition, annealing at 563 K, well above Tp, suppresses the superconducting transition temperature Tc and leads to an increase of the antiferromagnetic susceptibility accompanied by the creation of ferromagnetic impurity phases, which are developing with annealing time. However, annealing at T=488K=Tp increases Tc up to 33.3 K, sharpens the superconducting transition, increases the lower critical field, and strengthens the screening efficiency of the applied magnetic field. Resistivity measurements of the as-grown and optimally annealed samples reveal an increase of the upper critical field along both crystallographic directions as well as its anisotropy. Muon spin rotation and scanning transmission electron microscopy experiments suggest the coexistence of two phases below Tp: a magnetic majority phase of Rb2Fe4Se5 and a non-magnetic minority phase of Rb0.5Fe2Se2. Both microscopic techniques indicate that annealing the specimens just at Tp does not affect the volume fraction of the two phases, although the magnetic field distribution in the samples changes substantially. This suggests that the microstructure of the sample, caused by mesoscopic phase separation, is modified by annealing just at Tp, leading to an improvement of the superconducting properties of RbxFe2-ySe2 and an enhancement of Tc.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figure

Tuning of competing magnetic and superconducting phase volumes in LaFeAsO$_0.945F_0.055 by hydrostatic pressure

The interplay between magnetism and superconductivity in LaFeAsO_0.945F_0.055 was studied as a function of hydrostatic pressure up to p~2.4GPa by means of muon-spin rotation (\muSR) and magnetization measurements. The application of pressure leads to a substantial decrease of the magnetic ordering temperature T_N and a reduction of the magnetic phase volume and, at the same time, to a strong increase of the superconducting transition temperature T_c and the diamagnetic susceptibility. From the volume sensitive \muSR measurements it can be concluded that the superconducting and the magnetic areas which coexist in the same sample are inclined towards spatial separation and compete for phase volume as a function of pressure.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Extended Magnetic Dome Induced by Low Pressures in Superconducting FeSe1-x_\mathrm{1\text{-}x}Sx_\mathrm{x}

We report muon spin rotation ($\mu$SR) and magnetization measurements under pressure on Fe$_{1+\delta}$Se$_\mathrm{1\text{-}x}$S$_\mathrm{x}$ with x $\approx 0.11$.Above $p\approx0.6$ GPa we find microscopic coexistence of superconductivity with an extended dome of long range magnetic order that spans a pressure range between previously reported separated magnetic phases. The magnetism initially competes on an atomic scale with the coexisting superconductivity leading to a local maximum and minimum of the superconducting $T_\mathrm{c}(p)$. The maximum of $T_\mathrm{c}$ corresponds to the onset of magnetism while the minimum coincides with the pressure of strongest competition. A shift of the maximum of $T_\mathrm{c}(p)$ for a series of single crystals with x up to 0.14 roughly extrapolates to a putative magnetic and superconducting state at ambient pressure for x $\geq0.2$.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, including supplemental materia