Nodal versus Nodeless Behaviors of the Order Parameters of LiFeP and LiFeAs Superconductors from Magnetic Penetration-Depth Measurements

K. Hashimoto, S. Kasahara, R. Katsumata, Y. Mizukami, M. Yamashita, H. Ikeda, T. Terashima, A. Carrington, Y. Matsuda, and T. Shibauchi
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 047003 – Published 26 January 2012

Abstract

High-precision measurements of magnetic penetration depth λ in clean single crystals of LiFeAs and LiFeP superconductors reveal contrasting behaviors. In LiFeAs the low-temperature λ(T) shows a flat dependence indicative of a fully gapped state, which is consistent with previous studies. In contrast, LiFeP exhibits a T-linear dependence of superfluid density λ2, indicating a nodal superconducting order parameter. A systematic comparison of quasiparticle excitations in the 1111, 122, and 111 families of iron-pnictide superconductors implies that the nodal state is induced when the pnictogen height from the iron plane decreases below a threshold value of 1.33Å.

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  • Received 25 July 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.047003

© 2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

K. Hashimoto1, S. Kasahara2, R. Katsumata1, Y. Mizukami1, M. Yamashita1, H. Ikeda1, T. Terashima2, A. Carrington3, Y. Matsuda1, and T. Shibauchi1

  • 1Department of Physics, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
  • 2Research Center for Low Temperature and Materials Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
  • 3H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, United Kingdom

See Also

de Haas–van Alphen Study of the Fermi Surfaces of Superconducting LiFeP and LiFeAs

C. Putzke, A. I. Coldea, I. Guillamón, D. Vignolles, A. McCollam, D. LeBoeuf, M. D. Watson, I. I. Mazin, S. Kasahara, T. Terashima, T. Shibauchi, Y. Matsuda, and A. Carrington
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 047002 (2012)

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Vol. 108, Iss. 4 — 27 January 2012

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