Transmittance and reflectance measurements at terahertz frequencies on a superconducting BaFe_{1.84}Co_{0.16}As_2 ultrathin film: an analysis of the optical gaps in the Co-doped BaFe_2As_2 pnictide

TL;DR

This study investigates the terahertz optical properties of a superconducting BaFeCoAs ultrathin film, revealing two distinct superconducting gaps with temperature-dependent behaviors that align with BCS theory at low temperatures.

Contribution

It provides a detailed two-band, two-gap model analysis of terahertz optical measurements on a BaFeCoAs ultrathin film, highlighting the temperature evolution of the superconducting gaps.

Findings

Large gap Δ_B(0) = 17 cm⁻¹ follows BCS-like behavior.

Small gap Δ_A(0) = 8 cm⁻¹ shows unclear temperature dependence.

Gaps cluster along two main curves as a function of T_c, with different behaviors below and above 20 K.

Abstract

Here we report an optical investigation in the terahertz region of a 40 nm ultrathin BaFe$_{1.84}$Co$_{0.16}$As$_2$ superconducting film with superconducting transition temperature T$_c$ = 17.5 K. A detailed analysis of the combined reflectance and transmittance measurements showed that the optical properties of the superconducting system can be described in terms of a two-band, two-gap model. The zero temperature value of the large gap $\Delta_B$, which seems to follow a BCS-like behavior, results to be $\Delta_B$(0) = 17 cm$^{-1}$. For the small gap, for which $\Delta_A$(0) = 8 cm$^{-1}$, the temperature dependence cannot be clearly established. These gap values and those reported in the literature for the BaFe$_{2-x}$Co$_{x}$As$_2$ system by using infrared spectroscopy, when put together as a function of T$_c$, show a tendency to cluster along two main curves, providing a unified perspective of the measured optical gaps. Below a temperature around 20 K, the gap-sizes as a function of T$_c$ seem to have a BCS-like linear behavior, but with different slopes. Above this temperature, both gaps show different supra-linear behaviors.