Divergent nematic susceptibility in an iron arsenide superconductor

2012/03/15 by Jiun-Haw Chu, Hsueh-Hui Kuo, James G. Analytis +1 · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #cond-mat.str-el #cond-mat.supr-con

paper · pdf · doi:10.1126/science.1221713

8 pages, 8 figures

arxiv created 2012/03/15 · arxiv updated 2015/06/04

Abstract

Within the Landau paradigm of continuous phase transitions, ordered states of matter are characterized by a broken symmetry. Although the broken symmetry is usually evident, determining the driving force behind the phase transition is often a more subtle matter due to coupling between otherwise distinct order parameters. In this paper we show how measurement of the divergent nematic susceptibility of an iron pnictide superconductor unambiguously distinguishes an electronic nematic phase transition from a simple ferroelastic distortion. These measurements also reveal an electronic nematic quantum phase transition at the composition with optimal superconducting transition temperature.

Cited by

• Vortex flow anisotropy in nematic superconductors
• Strain Tuning of Orbital-Driven Giant Magnetoresistance in van der Waals ferrimagnet Mn₃Si₂Te₆

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