Superfluid density of Ba(Fe$_{1-x}M_x$)$_2$As$_2$ from optical experiments

TL;DR

This study measures the optical reflectivity of Fe-based superconductors to determine their superfluid density and penetration depth, confirming a scaling relation between superfluid density, conductivity, and critical temperature.

Contribution

It provides the first optical measurements of superfluid density in Ba(Fe$_{1-x}M_x$)$_2$As$_2$ compounds, revealing their penetration depths and confirming the universal scaling relation.

Findings

Superfluid density fits the scaling relation $ ho_s=(125 ext{±}25)\sigma_{dc}T_c$.

Penetration depths are approximately 3500 Å and 3000 Å for the two compounds.

Optical gap observed below 100 cm$^{-1}$ in both materials.

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the $ab$-plane optical reflectivity of Ba(Fe$_{0.92}$Co$_{0.08})_2$As$_{2}$ and Ba(Fe$_{0.95}$Ni$_{0.05})_2$As$_{2}$ single crystals is measured in a wide spectral range. Upon entering the superconducting regime, the reflectivity in both compounds increases considerably at low frequency, leading to a clear gap in the optical conductivity below 100 cm$^{-1}$. From the analysis of the complex conductivity spectra we obtain the penetration depth $\lambda(T)=(3500\pm 350)$ \AA for Ba(Fe$_{0.92}$Co$_{0.08})_2$As$_{2}$ and $(3000\pm 300)$ \AA for Ba(Fe$_{0.95}$Ni$_{0.05})_2$As$_{2}$. The calculated superfluid density $\rho_s$ of both compounds nicely fits the scaling relation $\rho_s=(125\pm 25)\sigma_{dc}T_c$.