Simultaneous emergence of superconductivity, inter-pocket scattering and nematic fluctuation in potassium-coated FeSe superconductor

TL;DR

This study reveals that in potassium-coated FeSe superconductors, superconductivity emerges with inter-pocket scattering and nematic fluctuations, highlighting their interconnected roles in high-temperature superconductivity.

Contribution

It provides a systematic analysis of electronic structure evolution, linking superconductivity to inter-pocket scattering and nematic fluctuations in electron-doped FeSe.

Findings

Superconductivity appears after a Lifshitz transition enabling inter-pocket scattering.

Nematic order is suppressed at the onset of superconductivity.

Strong nematic fluctuations persist across a wide doping range.

Abstract

Superconductivity originates from pairing of electrons. Pairing channel on Fermi surface and pairing glue are thus two pivotal issues for understanding a superconductor. Recently, high-temperature superconductivity over 40 K was found in electron-doped FeSe superconductors including K$_x$Fe$_{2-y}$Se$_2$, Li$_{0.8}$Fe$_{0.2}$OHFeSe, and 1 monolayer FeSe thin film. However, their pairing mechanism remains controversial. Here, we studied the systematic evolution of electronic structure in potassium-coated FeSe single crystal. The doping level is controlled precisely by in situ evaporating potassium onto the sample surface. We found that the superconductivity emerges when the inter-pocket scattering between two electron pockets is turned on by a Lifshitz transition of Fermi surface. The nematic order suppresses remarkably at the same doping and strong nematic fluctuation remains in a wide doping range of the phase diagram. Our results suggest an underlying correlation among superconductivity, inter-pocket scattering, and nematic fluctuation in electron-doped FeSe superconductors.