Superconductivity in iron compounds

G. R. Stewart
Rev. Mod. Phys. 83, 1589 – Published 13 December 2011

Abstract

Kamihara and coworkers’ report of superconductivity at Tc=26K in fluorine-doped LaFeAsO inspired a worldwide effort to understand the nature of the superconductivity in this new class of compounds. These iron pnictide and chalcogenide (FePn/Ch) superconductors have Fe electrons at the Fermi surface, plus an unusual Fermiology that can change rapidly with doping, which lead to normal and superconducting state properties very different from those in standard electron-phonon coupled “conventional” superconductors. Clearly, superconductivity and magnetism or magnetic fluctuations are intimately related in the FePn/Ch, and even coexist in some. Open questions, including the superconducting nodal structure in a number of compounds, abound and are often dependent on improved sample quality for their solution. With Tc values up to 56 K, the six distinct Fe-containing superconducting structures exhibit complex but often comparable behaviors. The search for correlations and explanations in this fascinating field of research would benefit from an organization of the large, seemingly disparate data set. This review provides an overview, using numerous references, with a focus on the materials and their superconductivity.

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  • Received 28 June 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.83.1589

© 2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

G. R. Stewart

  • Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-8440, USA

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Issue

Vol. 83, Iss. 4 — October - December 2011

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