Superconductivity and phase diagrams of CaK(Fe$_{1-x}$Mn$_{x}$)$_{4}$As$_{4}$ single crystals

TL;DR

This study investigates how Mn substitution affects superconductivity and magnetic properties in CaK(Fe$_{1-x}$Mn$_{x}$)$_{4}$As$_{4}$ single crystals, revealing a suppression of superconductivity and emergence of magnetic order with increasing Mn content.

Contribution

It provides a detailed phase diagram and thermodynamic analysis of Mn-doped CaKFe4As4, highlighting the interplay between superconductivity and magnetism in this system.

Findings

Superconducting transition temperature decreases with Mn doping.

Magnetic transition appears for x > 0.016 and increases with Mn content.

A half-dome of superconductivity is observed in the phase diagram.

Abstract

Members of the CaK(Fe$_{1-x}$Mn$_{x}$)$_{4}$As$_{4}$ series have been synthesized in single crystalline form and characterized by elemental analysis, thermodynamic and transport measurements. These measurements show that the superconducting transition temperature decreases monotonically and is finally suppressed below 1.8 K. For $x$-values greater than 0.016, signatures of a magnetic transition can be detected in both thermodynamic and transport measurements in which kink-like features allow for the determination of the transition temperature, $T^*$, that increases as Mn substitution increases. A temperature-composition ($T$-$x$) phase diagram is constructed, revealing a half-dome of superconductivity with the magnetic transition temperature, $T^*$, appearing near 26 K for $x$ $\sim$ 0.017 and rising slowly up to 33 K for $x$ $\sim$ 0.036. Specific heat data are used to track the jump in specific heat at $T_c$; The CaK(Fe$_{1-x}$Mn$_x$)$_4$As$_4$ data does not follow the scaling of $\Delta$$C_{p}$ with $T_{c}^3$ as many of the other Fe-based superconducting systems do. Elastoresistivity coefficients, $2m_{66}$ and $m_{11}-m_{12}$, as a function of temperature are also measured. $2m_{66}$ and $m_{11}-m_{12}$ are qualitatively similar to CaK(Fe$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$)$_4$As$_4$. This may indicate that the magnetic order in Mn substituted system may be still the same as CaK(Fe$_{1-x}$Ni$_x$)$_4$As$_4$. A clear change in $H^\prime_{c2}$($T$)/$T_c$, where $H^\prime_{c2}$($T$) is d$H_{c2}$($T$)/d$T$, at $x$ $\sim$ 0.015 is observed and probably is related to change of the Fermi surface due to magnetic order. Coherence lengths and the London penetration depths are also calculated based on $H_{c1}$ and $H_{c2}$ data. Coherence lengths as the function of $x$ also shows the changes near $x$ = 0.015.