c-axis pressure induced antiferromagnetic order in optimally P-doped BaFe2(As0.70P0.30)2 superconductor

TL;DR

Applying moderate c-axis uniaxial pressure to optimally P-doped BaFe2(As0.70P0.30)2 induces a three-dimensional antiferromagnetic order, revealing a strong magnetoelastic coupling and competition between nematic order and superconductivity.

Contribution

This study demonstrates that c-axis pressure can induce antiferromagnetic order in optimally doped BaFe2(As0.70P0.30)2, highlighting the role of magnetoelastic coupling in the phase competition.

Findings

c-axis pressure induces 3D AF order

pressure slightly suppresses Tc

pressure alters lattice parameters

Abstract

Superconductivity in BaFe2(As1-xPx)2 iron pnictides emerges when its in-plane two-dimensional (2D) orthorhombic lattice distortion associated with nematic phase at Ts and three-dimensional (3D) collinear antiferromagnetic (AF) order at TN (Ts = TN) are gradually suppressed with increasing x, reaching optimal superconductivity around x = 0.30 with Tc $\approx$ 30 K. Here we show that a moderate uniaxial pressure along the c-axis in BaFe2(As0.70P0.30)2 spontaneously induces a 3D collinear AF order with TN = Ts > 30 K, while only slightly suppresses Tc. Although a ~ 400 MPa pressure compresses the c-axis lattice while expanding the in-plane lattice and increasing the nearest-neighbor Fe-Fe distance, it barely changes the average iron-pnictogen height in BaFe2(As0.70P0.30)2. Therefore, the pressure- induced AF order must arise from a strong in-plane magnetoelastic coupling, suggesting that the 2D nematic phase is a competing state with superconductivity.