Spin fluctuations in the 112-type iron-based superconductor Ca$_{0.82}$La$_{0.18}$Fe$_{0.96}$Ni$_{0.04}$As$_{2}$

TL;DR

This study uses inelastic neutron scattering to analyze spin fluctuations in a noncentrosymmetric 112-type iron-based superconductor, revealing similarities with 122-type systems and suggesting a common magnetic origin for superconductivity.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed INS characterization of spin excitations in the 112-type superconductor, highlighting similarities with 122 systems despite structural differences.

Findings

Spin excitations in CaLa-112 resemble those in 122 systems.

Total fluctuating moments are larger than in 122 systems.

Dynamic correlation lengths are similar to 122 systems.

Abstract

We report time-of-flight inelastic neutron scattering (INS) investigations on the spin fluctuation spectrum in the 112-type iron-based superconductor (FeSC) Ca$_{0.82}$La$_{0.18}$Fe$_{0.96}$Ni$_{0.04}$As$_{2}$ (CaLa-112). In comparison to the 122-type FeSCs with a centrosymmetric tetragonal lattice structure (space group $I4/mmm$) at room temperature and an in-plane stripe-type antiferromagnetic (AF) order at low temperature, the 112 system has a noncentrosymmetric structure (space group $P2_{1}$) with additional zigzag arsenic chains between Ca/La layers and a magnetic ground state with similar wavevector $\mathbf{Q}_{\mathrm{AF}}$ but different orientations of ordered moments in the parent compounds. Our INS study clearly reveals that the in-plane dispersions and the bandwidth of spin excitations in the superconducting CaLa-112 closely resemble to those in 122 systems. While the total fluctuating moments $\langle m^2 \rangle\approx 4.6\pm0.2 \mu_B^2$/Fe are larger than 122 system, the dynamic correlation lengths are similar ($\xi\approx 10$ \AA). These results suggest that superconductivity in iron arsenides may have a common magnetic origin under similar magnetic exchange couplings with a dual nature from local moments and itinerant electrons, despite their different magnetic patterns and lattice symmetries.