Exotic d-wave superconductivity in strongly hole doped K(x)Ba(1-x)Fe2As2

TL;DR

This study uses functional renormalization group analysis to explore how strong hole doping in K(x)Ba(1-x)Fe2As2 leads to a transition from nodeless s+- to nodal d-wave superconductivity, aligning with experimental findings.

Contribution

It reveals the doping-dependent evolution of superconducting order parameters and identifies a transition to d-wave symmetry at strong hole doping in K(x)Ba(1-x)Fe2As2.

Findings

Nodeless anisotropic s+- order in moderate doping

Transition to nodal d-wave order at strong doping

Suppressed magnetic instability in the strongly doped regime

Abstract

We investigate the superconducting phase in the K(x)Ba(1-x)Fe2As2 122 compounds from moderate to strong hole-doping regimes. Using functional renormalization group, we show that while the system develops a nodeless anisotropic s+- order parameter in the moderately doped regime, gapping out the electron pockets at strong hole doping drives the system into a nodal cos (kx) cos (ky) d-wave superconducting state. This is in agreement with recent experimental evidence from measurements on KFe2As2 which see a nodal order parameter in the extreme doping regime. The magnetic instability is strongly suppressed. The case of only hole pockets present is argued to be structurally similar to the case of only electron pockets present as indicated for KxFe2Se2.