Normal-state properties of the quasi-one-dimensional superconductor Ta4Pd3Te16

We examined the physical properties of the quasi-one-dimensional superconductor Ta₄Pd₃Te₁₆ in the normal state by detailed measurements of susceptibility, in-plane anisotropic resistivity, magnetoresistance, Hall resistivity, and Seebeck coefficient. The large Wilson ratio, as inferred from normal-state susceptibility, indicates strong electron-electron interaction. The Hall and Seebeck coefficients show not only significant temperature-dependent behavior, indicating the multiband effect, but also an obvious anomaly around T ₁  =  40 K. Analyses of both the Hall resistivity and thermopower using a two-band model indicate that the electrons dominate the electrical transport at low temperatures. Our results imply that it is the quantum fluctuations of the charge order taking place in the temperature range 30-50 K that may result in the abnormal normal-state properties of Ta₄Pd₃Te₁₆.

Evidence of s-wave superconductivity in the noncentrosymmetric La7Ir3

Superconductivity in noncentrosymmetric compounds has attracted sustained interest in the last decades. Here we present a detailed study on the transport, thermodynamic properties and the band structure of the noncentrosymmetric superconductor La 7 Ir 3 (T c  ~ 2.3 K) that was recently proposed to break the time-reversal symmetry. It is found that La7Ir3 displays a moderately large electronic heat capacity (Sommerfeld coefficient γ n  ~ 53.1 mJ/mol K2) and a significantly enhanced Kadowaki-Woods ratio (KWR ~32 μΩ cm mol2 K2 J-2) that is greater than the typical value (~10 μΩ cm mol2 K2 J-2) for strongly correlated electron systems. The upper critical field Hc2 was seen to be nicely described by the single-band Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg model down to very low temperatures. The hydrostatic pressure effects on the superconductivity were also investigated. The heat capacity below T c reveals a dominant s-wave gap with the magnitude close to the BCS value. The first-principles calculations yield the electron-phonon coupling constant λ = 0.81 and the logarithmically averaged frequency ω ln  = 78.5 K, resulting in a theoretical T c  = 2.5 K, close to the experimental value. Our calculations suggest that the enhanced electronic heat capacity is more likely due to electron-phonon coupling, rather than the electron-electron correlation effects. Collectively, these results place severe constraints on any theory of exotic superconductivity in this system.

Raman scattering investigation of the quasi-one-dimensional superconductor Ta₄Pd₃Te₁₆

We have performed polarized Raman scattering measurements on the newly discovered superconductor Ta4Pd3Te16 (T(c) = 4.6 K). We observe 28 out of 33 Raman active modes, with frequencies in good accordance with first-principles calculations. Although most of the phonons observed vary only slightly with temperature and do not exhibit any asymmetric profile that would suggest strong electron-phonon coupling, the linewidth of the A(g) phonon mode at 89.9 cm(-1) shows an unconventional increase with temperature decreasing, which is possibly due to a charge-density-wave transition or the emergence of charge-density-wave fluctuations below a temperature estimated to fall in the 140-200 K range.

Electronic structure of Eu(Fe0.79Ru0.21)2As2 studied by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

Eu(Fe(0.79)Ru(0.21))2As2 is suggested to be a nodeless superconductor based on the empirical correlation between pnictogen height (hPn) and superconducting gap behavior, in contrast to BaFe2(As(0.7)P(0.3))2 and Ba(Fe(0.65)Ru(0.35))2As2. We studied the low-lying electronic structure of Eu(Fe(0.79)Ru(0.21))2As2 with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). By photon energy dependence and polarization dependence measurements, we resolved the band structure in the three-dimensional momentum space and determined the orbital character of each band. In particular, we found that the dz2 -originated ζ band does not contribute spectral weight to the Fermi surface around Z, unlike BaFe2(As(0.7)P(0.3))2 and Ba(Fe(0.65)Ru(0.35))2As2. Since BaFe2(As(0.7)P(0.3))2 and Ba(Fe(0.65)Ru(0.35))2As2 are nodal superconductors and their hPn's are less than 1.33 Å, while the hPn of Eu(Fe(0.79)Ru(0.21))2As2 is larger than 1.33 Å, our results provide more evidence for a direct relationship between nodes, dz2 orbital character and hPn. Our results help to provide an understanding of the nodal superconductivity in iron-based superconductors.

Variable range hopping conductivity and spin glass behavior in spin-ladder Ba0.6K0.4Fe2Se3 single crystals

Ba0.6K0.4Fe2Se3 (BKFS) single crystals were investigated by means of measurements of powder x-ray diffraction, temperature-dependent resistivity, anisotropic dc magnetization, ac magnetic susceptibility and specific heat. The powder x-ray diffraction indicates staggered iron displacements along the ladders with short and long Fe-Fe bond lengths (2.64(2) and 2.91(2) Å) variation. The resistivity of BKFS exhibits variable range hopping behavior with ln(ρ) ~ T(-1/2) at low temperature. The magnetic susceptibility χ(T) exhibits a sharp cusp at around 20 K in a zero-field-cooled process. The frequency-dependent ac magnetic susceptibility reveals that the cusp feature is attributable to spin glass behavior. The anisotropic ac magnetic susceptibility indicates that BKFS is probably an anisotropic Heisenberg-like spin glass with its easy magnetization plane perpendicular to the chain direction. The specific heat also supports an insulating and spin glass ground state. Extended Curie-Weiss behavior above 40 K was observed with a reduced effective moment (μ(eff) = 1.66 μ(B)/Fe for H is perpendicular to b and μ(eff) = 1.82 μB/Fe for H is parallel to b) in BKFS, which is close to the spin-only magnetism with S=1/2.

Superconductivity in a layered Ta4Pd3Te16 with PdTe2 chains

Superconductivity in low-dimensional compounds has long attracted much interest. Here we report superconductivity in a low-dimensional ternary telluride Ta4Pd3Te16 in which the repeating layers contain edge-sharing octahedrally coordinated PdTe2 chains along the crystallographic b axis. Measurements of electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and specific heat on the Ta4Pd3Te16 crystals, grown via a self-flux method, consistently demonstrate bulk superconductivity at 4.6 K. Further analyses of the data indicate significant electron-electron interaction, which allows electronic Cooper pairing in the present system.

Ba2Ti2Fe2As4O: A new superconductor containing Fe2As2 layers and Ti2O sheets

We have synthesized a new oxypnictide, Ba2Ti2Fe2As4O, via a solid-state reaction under a vacuum. The compound crystallizes in a body-centered tetragonal lattice, which can be viewed as an intergrowth of BaFe2As2 and BaTi2As2O, thus containing Fe2As2 layers and Ti2O sheets. Bulk superconductivity at 21 K is observed after annealing the as-prepared sample at 773 K for 40 h. In addition, an anomaly in resistivity and magnetic susceptibility around 125 K is revealed, suggesting a charge- or spin-density wave transition in the Ti sublattice.