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STM study of Quantum phase transition in LiFe<sub>1-x</sub>Co<sub>x</sub>As

ORAL

Abstract

We use scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to image the electronic impact of Co atoms on the ground state of the LiFe1-xCoxAs system. We observe that impurities progressively suppress the global superconducting gap and introduce low energy states near the gap edge, with the superconductivity remaining in the strong-coupling limit. Unexpectedly, the fully opened gap evolves into a nodal state before the Cooper pair coherence is fully destroyed. Our systematic theoretical analysis shows that these new observations can be quantitatively understood by the nonmagnetic Born-limit scattering effect in a s±-wave superconductor, unveiling the driving force of the superconductor to metal quantum phase transition.

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Presenters

  • Daniel Multer

    Princeton University, Department of Physics, Princeton University

Authors

  • Daniel Multer

    Princeton University, Department of Physics, Princeton University

  • Jiaxin Yin

    Princeton University, Laboratory for Topological Quantum Matter and Spectroscopy, Department of Physics, Princeton University, Department of Physics, Princeton University

  • Songtian Sonia Zhang

    Princeton University

  • Guangyang Dai

    Chinese Academy of Science

  • Yuanyuan Zhao

    Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology

  • Andreas Kreisel

    Universität Leipzig, Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Leipzig, Institute for Theoretical Physics, Leipzig University, Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Leipzig, University of Leipzig

  • Gennevieve Macam

    National Sun Yat-Sen University, National Sun Yat-sen University

  • Xianxin Wu

    The department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, Chinese Academy of Science, Julius-Maximilians University of Wuerzburg, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Physics

  • Hu Miao

    Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Brian M Andersen

    Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen

  • Nana Shumiya

    Princeton University

  • Maksim Litskevich

    Princeton University

  • Zijia Cheng

    Princeton University, Department of Physics, Princeton University

  • Xian Yang

    Princeton University, Department of Physics, Princeton University

  • Tyler Cochran

    Princeton University, Laboratory for Topological Quantum Matter and Spectroscopy, Department of Physics, Princeton University, Department of Physics, Princeton University

  • Guoqing Chang

    Princeton University, Laboratory for Topological Quantum Matter and Spectroscopy, Department of Physics, Princeton University, Nanyang Technological University, Department of Physics, Princeton University

  • Ilya Belopolski

    Princeton University, Laboratory for Topological Quantum Matter and Spectroscopy, Department of Physics, Princeton University, Department of Physics, Princeton University, Center for Emergent Matter Science, RIKEN

  • Lingyi Xing

    Louisiana State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Chinese Academy of Science

  • Yi Gao

    Nanjing Normal University

  • Feng-chuan Chuang

    Natl Sun Yat Sen Univ, National Sun Yat-Sen University

  • Hsin Lin

    Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Academia Sinica, Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, Physics, Academia Sinica

  • Ziqiang Wang

    Boston University, Physics, Boston College, Boston College, Department of Physics, Boston College

  • Changqing Jin

    Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science

  • Yunkyu Bang

    Pohang University of Science and Technology

  • Zahid Hasan

    Princeton University, Laboratory for Topological Quantum Matter and Spectroscopy, Department of Physics, Princeton University