Two-gap superconductivity with line nodes in CsCa$_2$Fe$_4$As$_4$F$_2$

TL;DR

This study uses muon-spin rotation to reveal that CsCa$_2$Fe$_4$As$_4$F$_2$ exhibits two-gap superconductivity with line nodes, combining s- and d-wave gaps, and identifies a possible magnetic phase below 10 K.

Contribution

It provides the first evidence of two-gap superconductivity with line nodes in CsCa$_2$Fe$_4$As$_4$F$_2$, expanding understanding of pairing symmetry in iron-based superconductors.

Findings

Presence of line nodes suggested by penetration depth data

Coexistence of s- and d-wave gaps in the superconductor

Detection of a magnetic phase below 10 K

Abstract

We report the results of a muon-spin rotation ($\mu$SR) experiment to determine the superconducting ground state of the iron-based superconductor CsCa$_2$Fe$_4$As$_4$F$_2$ with $T_{\rm c} \approx 28.3\,$K. This compound is related to the fully-gapped superconductor CaCsFe$_4$As$_4$, but here the Ca-containing spacer layer is replaced with one containing Ca$_2$F$_2$. The temperature evolution of the penetration depth strongly suggests the presence of line nodes and is best modelled by a system consisting of both an $s$- and a $d$-wave gap. We also find a potentially magnetic phase which appears below $\approx 10\,$K but does not appear to compete with the superconductivity. This compound contains the largest alkali atom in this family of superconductors and our results yield a value for the in-plane penetration depth of $\lambda_{ab}(T=0)=423(5)\,$nm.