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Local destruction of superconductivity by non-magnetic impurities in mesoscopic iron-based superconductors

Author

Listed:
  • Jun Li

    (INPAC—Institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry
    Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University
    National Institute for Materials Science)

  • Min Ji

    (Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University
    National Institute for Materials Science)

  • Tobias Schwarz

    (Physikalisches Institut-Experimentalphysik II and Center for Collective Quantum Phenomena in LISA+, Universität Tübingen)

  • Xiaoxing Ke

    (Electron Microscopy for Materials Research (EMAT), University of Antwerp)

  • Gustaaf Van Tendeloo

    (Electron Microscopy for Materials Research (EMAT), University of Antwerp)

  • Jie Yuan

    (National Institute for Materials Science
    Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Paulo J. Pereira

    (Division of Quantum and Physical Chemistry and INPAC-Institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry)

  • Ya Huang

    (Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University
    National Institute for Materials Science)

  • Gufei Zhang

    (INPAC—Institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry)

  • Hai-Luke Feng

    (National Institute for Materials Science
    Graduate School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Hokkaido University)

  • Ya-Hua Yuan

    (National Institute for Materials Science
    Graduate School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Hokkaido University)

  • Takeshi Hatano

    (National Institute for Materials Science)

  • Reinhold Kleiner

    (Physikalisches Institut-Experimentalphysik II and Center for Collective Quantum Phenomena in LISA+, Universität Tübingen)

  • Dieter Koelle

    (Physikalisches Institut-Experimentalphysik II and Center for Collective Quantum Phenomena in LISA+, Universität Tübingen)

  • Liviu F. Chibotaru

    (Division of Quantum and Physical Chemistry and INPAC-Institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry)

  • Kazunari Yamaura

    (National Institute for Materials Science
    Graduate School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Hokkaido University)

  • Hua-Bing Wang

    (Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University
    National Institute for Materials Science)

  • Pei-Heng Wu

    (Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, Nanjing University)

  • Eiji Takayama-Muromachi

    (Graduate School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Hokkaido University
    WPI-MANA, National Institute for Materials Science)

  • Johan Vanacken

    (INPAC—Institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry)

  • Victor V. Moshchalkov

    (INPAC—Institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry)

Abstract

The determination of the pairing symmetry is one of the most crucial issues for the iron-based superconductors, for which various scenarios are discussed controversially. Non-magnetic impurity substitution is one of the most promising approaches to address the issue, because the pair-breaking mechanism from the non-magnetic impurities should be different for various models. Previous substitution experiments demonstrated that the non-magnetic zinc can suppress the superconductivity of various iron-based superconductors. Here we demonstrate the local destruction of superconductivity by non-magnetic zinc impurities in Ba0.5K0.5Fe2As2 by exploring phase-slip phenomena in a mesoscopic structure with 119 × 102 nm2 cross-section. The impurities suppress superconductivity in a three-dimensional ‘Swiss cheese’-like pattern with in-plane and out-of-plane characteristic lengths slightly below ∼1.34 nm. This causes the superconducting order parameter to vary along abundant narrow channels with effective cross-section of a few square nanometres. The local destruction of superconductivity can be related to Cooper pair breaking by non-magnetic impurities.

Suggested Citation

  • Jun Li & Min Ji & Tobias Schwarz & Xiaoxing Ke & Gustaaf Van Tendeloo & Jie Yuan & Paulo J. Pereira & Ya Huang & Gufei Zhang & Hai-Luke Feng & Ya-Hua Yuan & Takeshi Hatano & Reinhold Kleiner & Dieter , 2015. "Local destruction of superconductivity by non-magnetic impurities in mesoscopic iron-based superconductors," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-6, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8614
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8614
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