Nodal gap in iron-based superconductor CsFe$_2$As$_2$ probed by quasiparticle heat transport

TL;DR

This study measures the thermal conductivity of CsFe$_2$As$_2$ single crystals at very low temperatures, revealing evidence of nodal superconducting gaps similar to KFe$_2$As$_2$, indicating unconventional superconductivity.

Contribution

The paper provides direct experimental evidence of nodal gaps in CsFe$_2$As$_2$ through low-temperature thermal conductivity measurements.

Findings

Significant residual linear term in thermal conductivity at zero field.

Rapid increase of $_0/T$ with magnetic field.

Nodal superconducting gap inferred from field dependence.

Abstract

The thermal conductivity of iron-based superconductor CsFe$_2$As$_2$ single crystal ($T_c =$ 1.81 K) was measured down to 50 mK. A significant residual linear term $\kappa_0/T$ = 1.27 mW K$^{-2}$ cm$^{-1}$ is observed in zero magnetic field, which is about 1/10 of the normal-state value in upper critical field $H_{c2}$. In low magnetic field, $\kappa_0/T$ increases rapidly with field. The overall field dependence of $\kappa_0/T$ for our CsFe$_2$As$_2$ (with residual resistivity $\rho_0$ = 1.80 $\mu\Omega$ cm) lies between the dirty KFe$_2$As$_2$ (with $\rho_0$ = 3.32 $\mu\Omega$ cm) and the clean KFe$_2$As$_2$ (with $\rho_0$ = 0.21 $\mu\Omega$ cm). These results strongly suggest nodal superconducting gap in CsFe$_2$As$_2$, similar to its sister compound KFe$_2$As$_2$.