In-plane electronic anisotropy in underdoped Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ revealed by detwinning in a magnetic field

ORAL

Abstract

We present results of angle-dependent magnetoresistance measurements and direct optical images of underdoped Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ which reveal partial detwinning by action of a 14T magnetic field. Driven by a substantial magneto-elastic coupling, this result provides evidence for an electronic origin of the lattice distortion in underdoped iron pnictides. The observed anisotropy in these partially detwinned samples implies a substantial in-plane electronic anisotropy in the broken symmetry state, with a smaller resistivity along the antiferromagnetic ordering direction.

*This work is supported by the DOE, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under contract no. DE-AC02-76SF00515.

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Authors

  • Jiun-Haw Chu

    • Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
    • Stanford University

  • James Analytis

    • Stanford Linear Accelerator center
    • Stanford University

  • David Press

    • E.L. Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University
    • Stanford University

  • Kristiaan De Greve

    • E.L. Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University
    • Stanford University

  • Thaddeus Ladd

    • E.L. Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University and National Institute of Informatics, Tokyo, Japan
    • Stanford University

  • Yoshihisa Yamamoto

    • Stanford University

  • Ian Fisher

    • Stanford
    • Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
    • GLAM, Stanford University, Ca 94304
    • Stanford University