The Electronic Phase Diagram of the Iron-based High Tc Superconductor Ba(Fe(1-x)Co(x))2As2 Under Hydrostatic Pressure (0 < x <0.099)

TL;DR

This study investigates how hydrostatic pressure influences the phase diagram of Ba(Fe(1-x)Co(x))2As2, revealing pressure-enhanced superconductivity in underdoped samples and implications for quantum phase transitions.

Contribution

It provides comprehensive resistivity data under pressure across a broad doping range, showing pressure effects on SDW suppression and Tc enhancement, extending the superconducting dome.

Findings

Pressure suppresses SDW transition in underdoped samples.

Pressure significantly enhances Tc in underdoped regime.

No pressure-induced superconductivity in undoped BaFe2As2.

Abstract

We report comprehensive resistivity measurements of single crystalline samples of the Ba(Fe(1-x)Co(x))2As2 high Tc superconductor under hydrostatic pressure up to 2.75 GPa and over a broad concentration range, 0 < x < 0.099. We show that application of pressure progressively suppresses the SDW transition temperature, T_SDW, in the underdoped regime. There is no sign of pressure-induced superconductivity in the undoped BaFe2As2 down to 1.8 K, but applied pressure dramatically enhances Tc in the underdoped regime. The effect of pressure on Tc is very small in the optimally and overdoped regimes. As a consequence, the dome of the superconducting phase extends to x 0.02 under pressure. We discuss the implications of our findings in the context of a possible quantum phase transition between the SDW and superconducting phases.