English

Superconductivity tuned by the iron vacancy order in K$_{\bf x}$Fe$_{\bf 2-y}$Se$_2$

Strongly Correlated Electrons 2013-03-20 v2 Superconductivity

Abstract

Combining in-depth neutron diffraction and systematic bulk studies, we discover that the 5×5\sqrt{5}\times\sqrt{5} Fe vacancy order with its associated block antiferromagnetic order is the ground state, with varying occupancy ratio of the iron 16i and vacancy 4d sites, across the phase-diagram of Kx_{\bf x}Fe2y_{\bf 2-y}Se2_2. The orthorhombic order with one of the four Fe sites vacant appears only at intermediate temperature as a competing phase. The material experiences an insulator to metal crossover when the 5×5\sqrt{5}\times\sqrt{5} order has highly developed. Superconductivity occurs in such a metallic phase.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1102.3674,
  title  = {Superconductivity tuned by the iron vacancy order in K$_{\bf x}$Fe$_{\bf 2-y}$Se$_2$},
  author = {Wei Bao and G. N. Li and Q. Huang and G. F. Chen and J. B. He and M. A. Green and Y. Qiu and D. M. Wang and J. L. Luo},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1102.3674},
  year   = {2013}
}