TY - JOUR
T1 - Influence of spin fluctuations on the thermal conductivity in superconducting Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2
AU - May, Andrew F.
AU - McGuire, Michael A.
AU - Mitchell, Jonathan E.
AU - Sefat, Athena S.
AU - Sales, Brian C.
PY - 2013/8/8
Y1 - 2013/8/8
N2 - The thermal conductivity of electron-doped Ba(Fe1-xCo x)2As2 single crystals is investigated below 200 K, with an emphasis on the behavior near the magnetic and superconducting (Tc) transition temperatures. An enhancement of the in-plane thermal conductivity κab is observed below Tc for all samples, with the greatest enhancement observed near optimal doping. The observed trends are consistent with the scattering of heat carriers by low-energy magnetic excitations. Upon entering the superconducting state, the formation of a spin gap leads to reduced scattering and an enhancement in κ(T). Similarly, an enhancement of κ is observed for polycrystalline BaFe2As2 below the magnetic transition, and qualitative differences in κ(T) between single crystalline and polycrystalline BaFe2As2 are utilized to discuss anisotropic scattering. This study highlights how measuring κ near Tc in novel superconductors can be useful as a means to probe the potential role of spin fluctuations.
AB - The thermal conductivity of electron-doped Ba(Fe1-xCo x)2As2 single crystals is investigated below 200 K, with an emphasis on the behavior near the magnetic and superconducting (Tc) transition temperatures. An enhancement of the in-plane thermal conductivity κab is observed below Tc for all samples, with the greatest enhancement observed near optimal doping. The observed trends are consistent with the scattering of heat carriers by low-energy magnetic excitations. Upon entering the superconducting state, the formation of a spin gap leads to reduced scattering and an enhancement in κ(T). Similarly, an enhancement of κ is observed for polycrystalline BaFe2As2 below the magnetic transition, and qualitative differences in κ(T) between single crystalline and polycrystalline BaFe2As2 are utilized to discuss anisotropic scattering. This study highlights how measuring κ near Tc in novel superconductors can be useful as a means to probe the potential role of spin fluctuations.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84883335253&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevB.88.064502
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevB.88.064502
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84883335253
SN - 1098-0121
VL - 88
JO - Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
JF - Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
IS - 6
M1 - 064502
ER -