Multi-gap nodeless superconductivity in iron selenide FeSe$_x$: evident from quasiparticle heat transport

TL;DR

This study provides strong evidence for multi-gap nodeless superconductivity in FeSe$_x$, based on low-temperature thermal conductivity measurements that show a small residual linear term and a field dependence similar to known multi-gap superconductors.

Contribution

The paper demonstrates that FeSe$_x$ exhibits multi-gap nodeless superconductivity, supported by thermal conductivity data, suggesting this gap structure may be common among Fe-based superconductors.

Findings

Residual linear term $ /T$ is very small, indicating no nodes.

Field dependence of $ /T$ resembles that of NbSe$_2$, a multi-gap superconductor.

Supports multi-gap nodeless superconductivity in FeSe$_x$.

Abstract

The in-plane thermal conductivity $\kappa$ of the iron selenide superconductor FeSe$_x$ ($T_c$ = 8.8 K) were measured down to 120 mK and up to 14.5 T ($\simeq 3/4 H_{c2}$). In zero field, the residual linear term $\kappa_0/T$ at $ T \to 0$ is only about 16 $\mu$W K$^{-2}$ cm$^{-1}$, less than 4% of its normal state value. Such a small $\kappa_0/T$ does not support the existence of nodes in the superconducting gap. More importantly, the field dependence of $\kappa_0/T$ in FeSe$_x$ is very similar to that in NbSe$_2$, a typical multi-gap s-wave superconductor. We consider our data as strong evidence for multi-gap nodeless superconductivity in FeSe$_x$. This kind of superconducting gap structure may be generic for all Fe-based superconductors.