Enhanced anisotropic spin fluctuations below tetragonal-to-orthorhombic transition in LaFeAs(O_{1-x}F_x) probed by ^{75}As and ^{139}La NMR

TL;DR

This study uses ^75As and ^139La NMR to investigate how F-doping affects structural and magnetic transitions in LaFeAs(O_{1-x}F_x), revealing enhanced anisotropic spin fluctuations below the structural transition.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the anisotropic spin fluctuations and their enhancement due to structural distortion in LaFeAs(O_{1-x}F_x), highlighting differences from other iron-based superconductors.

Findings

F-doping suppresses structural and magnetic transition temperatures.

Anisotropy of spin-lattice relaxation rate increases below the structural transition.

Abrupt suppression of antiferromagnetic order at x=0.04.

Abstract

$^{75}$As and $^{139}$La NMR results of LaFeAs(O$_{1-x}$F$_x$) ($x$=0, 0.025, and 0.04) were reported. Upon F-doping, the tetragonal-to-orthorhombic structural phase transition temperature $T_S$, antiferromagnetic transition temperature $T_N$ and internal magnetic field $\mu_0H_{\rm int}$ are gradually reduced for $x<0.04$. However, at $x=0.04$, $T_N$ is abruptly suppressed to be 30 K along with a tiny $\mu_0H_{\rm int}$, which is distinct from the continuous disappearance of the ordered phases in the Ba122 systems of Ba(Fe,Co)$_2$As$_2$ and BaFe$_2$(As,P)$_2$. The anisotropy of the spin-lattice relaxation rate $T_1^{-1}$, $(T_1)^{-1}_{H\parallel ab}/(T_1)^{-1}_{H\parallel c}$, in the paramagnetic phase of $x = 0$ and 0.025 is constant ($\sim 1.5$), but increases abruptly below $T_S$ due to the enhancement of $(T_1)^{-1}_{H\parallel ab}$ by the slowing down of magnetic fluctuations. This indicates that the tetragonal-to-orthorhombic structural distortion enhances the anisotropy in the spin space via magnetoelastic coupling and/or spin-orbit interaction.