Time-reversal symmetry breaking superconductivity in the coexistence phase with magnetism in Fe pnictides

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

We argue that superconductivity in the coexistence region with spin-density-wave (SDW) order in weakly doped Fe pnictides erdiffers qualitatively from the ordinary s+- state outside the coexistence region as it develops an additional gap component which is a mixture of intrapocket singlet (s++) and interpocket spin-triplet pairings (the t state). The coupling constant for the t channel is proportional to the SDW order and involves interactions that do not contribute to superconductivity outside of the SDW region. We argue that the s+ - and t-type superconducting orders coexist at low temperatures, and the relative phase between the two is, in general, different from 0 or π, manifesting explicitly the breaking of the time-reversal symmetry promoted by long-range SDW order. We argue that time reversal may get broken even before true superconductivity develops.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number167001
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume113
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 13 2014

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 American Physical Society.

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Time-reversal symmetry breaking superconductivity in the coexistence phase with magnetism in Fe pnictides'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this