Electronic Phase Separation in the Slightly Underdoped Iron Pnictide Superconductor Ba1-xKxFe2As2

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • J. T. Park - , Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) (Author)
  • D. S. Inosov - , Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) (Author)
  • Ch. Niedermayer - , Paul Scherrer Institute (Author)
  • G. L. Sun - , Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) (Author)
  • D. Haug - , Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) (Author)
  • N. B. Christensen - , Paul Scherrer Institute (Author)
  • R. Dinnebier - , Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) (Author)
  • A. V. Boris - , Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) (Author)
  • A. J. Drew - , University of Fribourg (Author)
  • L. Schulz - , University of Fribourg (Author)
  • T. Shapoval - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • U. Wolff - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • V. Neu - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Xiaoping Yang - , Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) (Author)
  • C. T. Lin - , Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) (Author)
  • B. Keimer - , Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) (Author)
  • V. Hinkov - , Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) (Author)

Abstract

Here we present a combined study of the slightly underdoped novel pnictide superconductor Ba1-xKxFe2As2 by means of x-ray powder diffraction, neutron scattering, muon-spin rotation (mu SR), and magnetic force microscopy (MFM). Static antiferromagnetic order sets in below T-m approximate to 70 K as inferred from the neutron scattering and zero-field-mu SR data. Transverse-field mu SR below T-c shows a coexistence of magnetically ordered and nonmagnetic states, which is also confirmed by MFM imaging. We explain such coexistence by electronic phase separation into antiferromagnetic and superconducting- or normal-state regions on a lateral scale of several tens of nanometers. Our findings indicate that such mesoscopic phase separation can be considered an intrinsic property of some iron pnictide superconductors.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number117006
Number of pages4
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume102
Issue number11
Publication statusPublished - 20 Mar 2009
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

Scopus 63749098497

Keywords

Keywords

  • HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTOR, BI2SR2CACU2O8+DELTA, LA2CUO4+DELTA, DENSITY, DIAGRAM, OXIDES, STATE, ORDER

Library keywords