Separate tuning of nematicity and spin fluctuations to unravel the origin of superconductivity in FeSe

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Seung Ho Baek - , Changwon National University (Author)
  • Jong Mok Ok - , Pohang University of Science and Technology, Institute for Basic Science (Author)
  • Jun Sung Kim - , Pohang University of Science and Technology, Institute for Basic Science (Author)
  • Saicharan Aswartham - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Igor Morozov - , Chair of Ultra-Precision Surface Machining Using Ions and Plasmas (with IOM Leipzig), Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Author)
  • Dmitriy Chareev - , Russian Academy of Sciences, Ural Federal University, Kazan Volga Region Federal University (Author)
  • Takahiro Urata - , Tohoku University, Nagoya University (Author)
  • Katsumi Tanigaki - , Tohoku University (Author)
  • Yoichi Tanabe - , Tohoku University, Okayama University of Science (Author)
  • Bernd Büchner - , Chair of Experimental Solid State Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Dmitri V. Efremov - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)

Abstract

The interplay of orbital and spin degrees of freedom is the fundamental characteristic in numerous condensed matter phenomena, including high-temperature superconductivity, quantum spin liquids, and topological semimetals. In iron-based superconductors (FeSCs), this causes superconductivity to emerge in the vicinity of two other instabilities: nematic and magnetic. Unveiling the mutual relationship among nematic order, spin fluctuations, and superconductivity has been a major challenge for research in FeSCs, but it is still controversial. Here, by carrying out 77Se nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements on FeSe single crystals, doped by cobalt and sulfur that serve as control parameters, we demonstrate that the superconducting transition temperature Tc increases in proportion to the strength of spin fluctuations, while it is independent of the nematic transition temperature Tnem. Our observation therefore directly implies that superconductivity in FeSe is essentially driven by spin fluctuations in the intermediate coupling regime, while nematic fluctuations have a marginal impact on Tc.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number8
Journalnpj quantum materials
Volume5
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2020
Peer-reviewedYes