Direct observation of local potassium variation and its correlation to electronic inhomogeneity in (Ba1-xKx)Fe2As 2 pnictide

Authors

Wai Kong Yeoh, The University Of Sydney
Baptiste Gault, University of Sydney
X.Y. Cui, University of Sydney
C. Zhu, University of Sydney
P Moody, University of Sydney
L. Li, University of Sydney
Rongkun Zheng, University of Sydney
Wenxian Li, University of WollongongFollow
Xiaolin Wang, University of WollongongFollow
S. X. Dou, University of WollongongFollow
G.L Sun, Max Planck Inst. Solid State Research Germany
C T Lin, Max Planck Inst. Solid State Research GermanyFollow
S P. Ringer, University of Sydney

RIS ID

38171

Publication Details

Yeoh, W. K., Gault, B., Cui, X. Y., Zhu, C., Moody, M. P., Li, L., Zheng, R. K., Li, W. X., Wang, X. L., Dou, S. X., Sun, G. L., Lin, C. T. & Ringer, S. P. (2011). Direct observation of local potassium variation and its correlation to electronic inhomogeneity in (Ba_1-xK_x)Fe₂As₂ Pnictide. Physical Review Letters, 106 (24), 247002-1-247002-4.

Abstract

Local fluctuations in the distribution of dopant atoms are thought to cause the nanoscale electronic disorder or phase separation in pnictide superconductors. Atom probe tomography has enabled the first direct observations of dopant species clustering in a K-doped 122-phase pnictide. First-principles calculations suggest the coexistence of static magnetism and superconductivity on a lattice parameter length scale over a wide range of dopant concentrations. Our results provide evidence for a mixed scenario of phase coexistence and phase separation, depending on local dopant atom distributions.

Grant Number

ARC/DP0770205

Additional Grant Number

http://purl.org/au-research/grants/ARC/DP0770205