Doping - dependent superconducting gap anisotropy in the two-dimensional 10-3-8 pnictide Ca$_{10}$(Pt$_3$As$_8$)[(Fe$_{1-x}$Pt$_{x}$)$_2$As$_2$]$_5$

TL;DR

This study investigates how doping affects the anisotropy of the superconducting gap in the 10-3-8 iron pnictide superconductor, revealing increased anisotropy at lower doping levels and suggesting an intrinsic property of iron-based superconductivity.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed doping-dependent analysis of superconducting gap anisotropy in the 10-3-8 superconductor, linking it to intrinsic pairing mechanisms in iron pnictides.

Findings

Superconducting gap becomes more anisotropic at lower doping levels.

Gap anisotropy trend is similar across different iron-based superconductors.

Doping dependence supports $s_{}$ pairing with intra-band repulsion.

Abstract

The characteristic features of Ca$_{10}$(Pt$_3$As$_8$)[(Fe$_{1-x}$Pt$_x$)$_2$As$_2$]$_5$ ("10-3-8") superconductor are relatively high anisotropy and a clear separation of superconductivity and structural/magnetic transitions, which allows studying the superconducting gap without complications due to the coexisting order parameters. The London penetration depth, measured in underdoped single crystals of 10-3-8 ($x =$ 0.028, 0.041, 0.042, and 0.097), shows behavior remarkably similar to other Fe-based superconductors, exhibiting robust power-law, $\Delta \lambda(T) = A T^n$. The exponent $n$ decreases from 2.36 ($x =$ 0.097, close to optimal doping) to 1.7 ($x =$ 0.028, a heavily underdoped composition), suggesting that the superconducting gap becomes more anisotropic at the dome edge. A similar trend is found in low-anisotropy superconductors based on BaFe$_2$As$_2$ ("122"), implying that it is an intrinsic property of superconductivity in iron pnictides, unrelated to the coexistence of magnetic order and superconductivity or the anisotropy of the normal state. Overall this doping dependence is consistent with $s_{\pm}$ pairing competing with intra-band repulsion.