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Unconventional pairing in the iron arsenide superconductors

Rafael M. Fernandes, Daniel K. Pratt, Wei Tian, Jerel Zarestky, Andreas Kreyssig, Shibabrata Nandi, Min Gyu Kim, Alex Thaler, Ni Ni, Paul C. Canfield, Robert J. McQueeney, Jörg Schmalian, and Alan I. Goldman
Phys. Rev. B 81, 140501(R) – Published 2 April 2010

Abstract

We use magnetic long-range order as a tool to probe the Cooper-pair wave function in the iron arsenide superconductors. We show theoretically that antiferromagnetism and superconductivity can coexist in these materials only if Cooper pairs form an unconventional, sign-changing state. The observation of coexistence in Ba(Fe1xCox)2As2 then demonstrates unconventional pairing in this material. The detailed agreement between theory and neutron-diffraction experiments, in particular, for the unusual behavior of the magnetic order below Tc, demonstrates the robustness of our conclusions. Our findings strongly suggest that superconductivity is unconventional in all members of the iron arsenide family.

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  • Received 15 February 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.81.140501

©2010 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Rafael M. Fernandes*, Daniel K. Pratt, Wei Tian, Jerel Zarestky, Andreas Kreyssig, Shibabrata Nandi, Min Gyu Kim, Alex Thaler, Ni Ni, Paul C. Canfield, Robert J. McQueeney, Jörg Schmalian, and Alan I. Goldman

  • Ames Laboratory, U.S. DOE, and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA

  • *rafaelmf@ameslab.gov

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Issue

Vol. 81, Iss. 14 — 1 April 2010

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