Momentum dependence of superconducting gap, strong-coupling dispersion kink, and tightly bound Cooper pairs in the high-Tc (Sr,Ba)1-x(K,Na)xFe2As2 superconductors

ORAL

Abstract

We present a systematic angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopic study of the high-T$c$ superconductor class (Sr/Ba)$_{1-x}$(K/Na)$_x$Fe$_2$As$_2$. By utilizing a photon-energy-modulation contrast and scattering geometry we report the Fermi surface and the momentum dependence of the superconducting gap, $\Delta(\overrightarrow{k})$. A prominent quasiparticle dispersion kink reflecting strong scattering processes is observed in a binding-energy range of 25-55 meV in the superconducting state, and the coherence length or the extent of the Cooper pair wave function is found to be about 20 $\AA$, which is uncharacteristic of a superconducting phase realized by the BCS-phonon-retardation mechanism. The observed 40$\pm$15 meV kink likely reflects contributions from the frustrated spin excitations in a J$_1$-J$_2$ magnetic background and scattering from the soft phonons. Results taken collectively provide direct clues to the nature of the pairing potential including an internal phase-shift factor in the superconducting order parameter which leads to a Brillouin zone node in a strong-coupling setting.

Authors

  • Lewis Wray

    • Department of Physics, Princeton University
    • Princeton University
  • Dong Qian

    • Princeton University
  • David Hsieh

    • Princeton University
  • Yuqi Xia

    • Princeton University
  • Ali Yazdani

    • Princeton University
  • N. Phuan Ong

    • Princeton University
  • Nanlin Wang

    • Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics
  • M. Zahid Hasan

    • Princeton University