The minimum model for the iron-based superconductors

TL;DR

This paper proposes a minimal single-band model to describe superconductivity in iron-based superconductors, revealing a transition from a d_{xy} to a time-reversal symmetry-breaking d_{xy}+id_{x^2-y^2} phase.

Contribution

It introduces a simplified model capturing the essential physics of iron-based superconductors and predicts a specific sequence of superconducting phases with symmetry breaking.

Findings

Superconductivity occurs in the d-wave channel.

System transitions from d_{xy} to d_{xy}+id_{x^2-y^2} phase with decreasing temperature.

The model aligns with experimental observations of symmetry-breaking phases.

Abstract

A single band $t$-$U$-$J_1$-$J_2$ model is proposed as the minimum model to describe the superconductivity of the newly discovered iron-based superconductors $R(O_{1-x}F_x)FeAs$ and $RO_{1-x}FeAs$ ($R=La, Ce, Sm, Pr, Nd,Gd$). With the mean-field approach, it is found that the pairing occurs in the d-wave channel. In the likely parameter region of the real materials, by lowering temperature, the system enters firstly the $d_{xy}$ superconducting phase with $D_{4h}$-symmetry and then enters the time-reversal-symmetry-broken $d_{xy}+id_{x^2-y^2}$ superconducting phase with $C_{4h}$-symmetry.