Highly anisotropic energy gap in superconducting Ba(Fe$_{0.9}$Co$_{0.1}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$ from optical conductivity measurements

TL;DR

This study uses terahertz optical conductivity measurements to reveal a highly anisotropic energy gap in the superconductor Ba(Fe$_{0.9}$Co$_{0.1}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$, supporting a two-band $s_{ ext{±}}$ gap symmetry with one isotropic and one anisotropic gap.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed optical conductivity analysis showing a highly anisotropic energy gap and confirms the two-band $s_{ ext{±}}$ pairing symmetry in this superconductor.

Findings

Observation of a superconducting energy gap opening below $T_c$

Detection of a pronounced coherence peak in $\sigma_1$ below 15 cm$^{-1}$

Identification of a small isotropic gap and a larger anisotropic gap with possible nodes

Abstract

We have measured the complex dynamical conductivity, $\sigma = \sigma_{1} + i\sigma_{2}$, of superconducting Ba(Fe$_{0.9}$Co$_{0.1}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$ ($T_{c} = 22$ K) at terahertz frequencies and temperatures 2 - 30 K. In the frequency dependence of $\sigma_{1}$ below $T_{c}$, we observe clear signatures of the superconducting energy gap opening. The temperature dependence of $\sigma_{1}$ demonstrates a pronounced coherence peak at frequencies below 15 cm$^{-1}$ (1.8 meV). The temperature dependence of the penetration depth, calculated from $\sigma_{2}$, shows power-law behavior at the lowest temperatures. Analysis of the conductivity data with a two-gap model, gives the smaller isotropic s-wave gap of $\Delta_{A} = 3$ meV, while the larger gap is highly anisotropic with possible nodes and its rms amplitude is $\Delta_{0} = 8$ meV. Overall, our results are consistent with a two-band superconductor with an $s_{\pm}$ gap symmetry.