The role of spin–orbit coupling in the electronic structure of iron‐based superconductors (Phys. Status Solidi B 1/2017). Issue 1 (17th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Borisenko, Sergey; Evtushinsky, Daniil; Liu, Zhonghao; Morozov, Igor; Kappenberger, Rhea; Wurmehl, Sabine; Büchner, Bernd; Yaresko, Alexander; Kim, Timur; Hoesch, Moritz; Wolf, Thomas; Zhigadlo, Nikolai
• Is Part Of: Physica status solidi. Volume 254:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-01-17
• Subjects: Solid state physics -- Periodicals; Solids -- Periodicals; Atomic structure -- Periodicals; 530.41
• DOI: 10.1002/pssb.201770201
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0370-1972

Abstract

Abstract : The fine details of the electronic structure of iron‐based superconductors are responsible for the complete loss of resistance at relatively high temperatures. Although the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon is not yet fully understood, the high‐resolution measurements of the lowenergy electronic states may help to find the answer. The results of such experiments for LiFeAs obtained by angleresolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) reveal the presence of spin‐orbit splitting, a fundamental interaction which is suggested to contribute to the pairing of electrons (see the Feature Article by Borisenko et al., article no.1600550 ). The Fermi surface map (upper row of the cover pictures, third panel) shows that spin‐orbit coupling lifts the degeneracy in those positions where the electron‐like pockets crossed in the non‐relativistic case. This interaction converts the Fermi surfaces encircling the corner of the Brillouin zone to clearly separated inner and outer electron pockets. The observation that those electronic states which are split–most (centers of the middle and lower row panels) support the largest superconducting gap argues for a relationship between spin‐orbit coupling and Cooper pairing in iron‐based materials. [Adopted from Nature Phys.12, 311 (2016).]