Evidence for domain wall superconductivity in antiferromagnetic CaFe2As2

ORAL

Abstract

$^{75}$As nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), resistivity, and magnetization measurements in the antiferromagnetic state of the iron-based superconductor parent compound CaFe$_2$As$_2$ exhibit anomalous features consistent with the collective freezing of domain walls. Below T* $\approx$ 10 K, the $^{75}$As NMR measurements reveal the presence of slow fluctuations of the hyperfine field, the resistivity shows an enhancement and subsequent suppression, and the bulk magnetization shows a sharp increase. These features in both the charge and spin response are strongly field dependent, are fully suppressed by H* $\approx$ 15 T, and suggest the presence of filamentary superconductivity nucleated at the antiphase domain walls.

Authors

  • Adam P. Dioguardi

    • UC Davis Physics
  • Hong Xiao

    • Department of Physics, University of Crete and FORTH
  • T. Hu

    • Department of Physics, University of Crete and FORTH
  • Nicholas apRoberts-Warren

    • Department of Physics, UC Davis
  • Abigail Shockley

    • Department of Physics, UC Davis
  • John Crocker

    • Department of Physics, UC Davis
  • David M. Nisson

    • Department of Physics, UC Davis
  • Z. Viskadourakis

    • Department of Physics, University of Crete and FORTH
  • Xianyang Tee

    • Division of Physics and Applied Physics, Nanyang Technology University
  • I. Radulov

    • Department of Physics, University of Crete and FORTH
  • C.C. Almasan

    • Department of Physics, Kent State University
  • Nicholas J. Curro

    • Department of Physics, UC Davis
  • Christos Panagopoulos

    • Department of Physics, University of Crete and FORTH