Dynamics of orbital degrees of freedom probed via isotope $^{121,123}$ Sb nuclear quadrupole moments in Sb-substituted iron-pnictide superconductors

TL;DR

This study uses isotope $^{121,123}$Sb nuclear quadrupole moments to investigate orbital and nematic fluctuations in Sb-substituted iron-based superconductors, revealing their critical role near structural and superconducting transitions.

Contribution

It demonstrates that Sb isotope nuclear quadrupole moments are effective local probes for orbital dynamics and nematic fluctuations in Fe-pnictides, providing new insights into their relation to superconductivity.

Findings

Enhanced nematic fluctuations at structural transition temperature.

Suppressed nematic fluctuations in lightly electron-doped superconductors.

Detection of orbital and spin fluctuation coexistence in the superconducting state.

Abstract

Isotope $^{121,123}$Sb nuclei with large electric quadrupole moments are applied to investigate the dynamics of orbital degrees of freedom in Sb-substituted iron(Fe)-based compounds. In the parent compound LaFe(As$_{0.6}$Sb$_{0.4}$)O, the nuclear spin relaxation rate $^{121,123}(T_{1}^{-1})$ at $^{121,123}$Sb sites was enhanced at structural transition temperature ($T_{s}\sim$ 135 K), which is higher than N\'eel temperature ($T_{\rm N}\sim$125 K). The isotope ratio $^{123}(T_{1}^{-1})/^{121}(T_{1}^{-1})$ indicates that the electric quadrupole relaxation due to the dynamical electric field gradient at Sb site increases significantly toward $T_{s}$. It is attributed to the critically enhanced nematic fluctuations of stripe-type arrangement of Fe-$3d_{xz}$ (or $3d_{yz}$) orbitals. In the lightly electron-doped superconducting (SC) compound LaFe(As$_{0.7}$Sb$_{0.3}$)(O$_{0.9}$F$_{0.1}$), the nematic fluctuations are largely suppressed in comparison with the case of the parent compound, however, it remains a small enhancement below 80 K down to the $T_c$($\sim$ 20 K). The results indicate that the fluctuations from both the spin and orbital degrees of freedom on the $3d_{xz}$(or $3d_{yz}$) orbitals can be seen in lightly electron-doped SC state of LaFeAsO-based compounds. We emphasize that isotope $^{121,123}$Sb quadrupole moments are sensitive local probe to identify the dynamics of orbital degrees of freedom in Fe-pnictides, which provides with a new opportunity to discuss the microscopic correlation between the superconductivity and both nematic and spin fluctuations simultaneously even in the polycrystalline samples.