First and second order magnetic and structural transitions in BaFe$_{2(1-x)}$Co$_{2x}$As$_{2}$

TL;DR

This study investigates magnetic and structural phase transitions in BaFe$_{2(1-x)}$Co$_{2x}$As$_{2}$ single crystals, identifying a tricritical point and the emergence of superconductivity at specific doping levels.

Contribution

It provides high-resolution magnetization data confirming a magnetic tricritical point and structural transition onset in BaFe$_{2(1-x)}$Co$_{2x}$As$_{2}$, advancing understanding of phase behavior in this material.

Findings

Identification of a magnetic tricritical point at x ≈ 0.022.

Detection of structural transition anomaly at x ≈ 0.0064.

Superconductivity appears at x ≈ 0.0315, beyond the tricritical point.

Abstract

We present here high resolution magnetization measurements on high-quality BaFe$_{2(1-x)}$Co$_{2x}$As$_{2}$, 0$\leq$x$\leq$0.046 as-grown single crystals. The results confirm the existence of a magnetic tricritical point in the ($x$,$T$) plane at x$^{m}_{tr}$$\approx$0.022 and reveal the emergence of the heat capacity anomaly associated with the onset of the structural transition at x$^{s}$$\approx$0.0064. We show that the samples with doping near x$^{m}_{tr}$ do not show superconductivity, but rather superconductivity emerges at a slightly higher cobalt doping, x$\approx$0.0315