Phase-sensitive evidence for the sign-reversal s+- symmetry of the order parameter in an iron-pnictide superconductor using Nb/Ba1-xNaxFe2As2 Josephson junctions

TL;DR

This study uses phase-sensitive Josephson junctions between Nb and Ba$_{1-x}$Na$_x$Fe$_2$As$_2$ to provide experimental evidence supporting the s$_{ ext{±}}$ symmetry of the order parameter in an iron-pnictide superconductor.

Contribution

It demonstrates phase-sensitive measurements that reveal the sign-reversal s$_{ ext{±}}$ symmetry in an iron-pnictide superconductor using Nb/Ba$_{1-x}$Na$_x$Fe$_2$As$_2$ junctions.

Findings

Small $I_cR_n$ product indicates sign-reversal pairing symmetry.

Junctions show phase cancellation consistent with s$_{ ext{±}}$ symmetry.

Temperature dependence supports the phase-sensitive evidence for s$_{ ext{±}}$ symmetry.

Abstract

Josephson current between two superconductors provides a phase sensitive tool for probing their pairing symmetries. Here we fabricate and study experimentally high-quality Josephson junctions between a conventional s-wave superconductor Nb and a multi-band iron-pnictide Ba$_{1-x}$Na$_x$Fe$_2$As$_2$. Junctions exhibit a large enough critical current density to preclude the d-wave symmetry of the order parameter in the pnictide. However, the $I_cR_n$ product is very small $\simeq 3~\mu$V, which is not consistent with the sign-preserving $s_{++}$ symmetry either. We argue that the small $I_cR_n$ value along with its unusual temperature dependence provide evidence for the $s_{\pm}$ symmetry of the order parameter in Ba$_{1-x}$Na$_x$Fe$_2$As$_2$. We conclude that it is the phase sensitivity of our junctions that leads to an almost complete (bellow a sub-percent) cancellation of opposite supercurrents from the sign-reversal $s_{\pm}$ bands in the pnictide.