Tracing the Electronic Pairing Glue in Unconventional Superconductors via Inelastic Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy

Patrik Hlobil, Jasmin Jandke, Wulf Wulfhekel, and Jörg Schmalian
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 167001 – Published 17 April 2017
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

Scanning tunneling microscopy has been shown to be a powerful experimental probe to detect electronic excitations and further allows us to deduce fingerprints of bosonic collective modes in superconductors. Here, we demonstrate that the inclusion of inelastic tunnel events is crucial for the interpretation of tunneling spectra of unconventional superconductors and allows us to directly probe electronic and bosonic excitations via scanning tunneling microscopy. We apply the formalism to the iron based superconductor LiFeAs. With the inclusion of inelastic contributions, we find strong evidence for a nonconventional pairing mechanism, likely via magnetic excitations.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 30 August 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.167001

© 2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Patrik Hlobil1,2, Jasmin Jandke3, Wulf Wulfhekel3, and Jörg Schmalian1,2

  • 1Institut für Festkörperphysik, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, 76344 Karlsruhe, Germany
  • 2Institut für Theorie der Kondensierten Materie, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
  • 3Physikalisches Institut, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 118, Iss. 16 — 21 April 2017

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×