Relationship between Transport Anisotropy and Nematicity in FeSe

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Jack M. Bartlett - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, University of St Andrews (Author)
  • Alexander Steppke - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)
  • Suguru Hosoi - , The University of Tokyo, Osaka University (Author)
  • Hilary Noad - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)
  • Joonbum Park - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)
  • Carsten Timm - , Chair of Theory of Condensed Matter, Clusters of Excellence ct.qmat: Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter (Author)
  • Takasada Shibauchi - , The University of Tokyo (Author)
  • Andrew P. Mackenzie - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, University of St Andrews (Author)
  • Clifford W. Hicks - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, University of Birmingham (Author)

Abstract

The mechanism behind the nematicity of FeSe is not known. Through elastoresitivity measurements it has been shown to be an electronic instability. However, thus far measurements have extended only to small strains, where the response is linear. Here, we apply large elastic strains to FeSe and perform two types of measurement. (1) Using applied strain to control twinning, the nematic resistive anisotropy at temperatures below the nematic transition temperature Ts is determined. (2) Resistive anisotropy is measured as nematicity is induced through applied strain at fixed temperature above Ts. In both cases, as nematicity strengthens, the resistive anisotropy peaks at about 7%, then decreases. Below ≈40 K, the nematic resistive anisotropy changes sign. We discuss possible implications of this behavior for theories of nematicity. In addition, we report the following. (1) Under experimentally accessible conditions with bulk crystals, stress, rather than strain, is the conjugate field to the nematicity of FeSe. (2) At low temperatures the twin boundary resistance is ∼10% of the sample resistance, and must be properly subtracted to extract intrinsic resistivities. (3) Biaxial in-plane compression increases both in-plane resistivity and the superconducting critical temperature Tc, consistent with a strong role of the yz orbital in the electronic correlations.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number021038
JournalPhysical Review X
Volume11
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - May 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

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