Inter-layer Superconducting Pairing Induced c-axis Nodal Lines in Iron-based Superconductors

Abstract

A layered superconductor with a full pairing energy gap can be driven into a nodal superconducting (SC) state by inter-layer pairing when the SC state becomes more quasi-3D. We propose that this mechanism is responsible for the observed nodal behavior in a class of iron-based SCs. We show that the intra- and inter-layer pairings generally compete and the gap nodes develop on one of the {\em hole} Fermi surface pockets as they become larger in the iron-pnictides. Our results provide a natural explanation of the c-axis gap modulations and gap nodes observed by angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Moreover, we predict that an anti-correlated c-axis gap modulations on the hole and electron pockets should be observable in the $S^{\pm }$-wave pairing state.

5 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (16)

• Unconventional pairing originating from disconnected Fermi surfaces in superconducting LaFeAsO${}_{1-x}$F${}_x$}
• Observation of Fermi-surface-dependent nodeless superconducting gaps in Ba0.6K0.4Fe2As2
• Theory of Electron Nematic Order in LaOFeAs
• Nearly Isotropic superconductivity in (Ba,K)Fe2As2
• A minimal two-band model for the superconducting Fe-pnictides
• Funtional Renormalization Group Study of the Pairing Symmetry and Pairing Mechanism of the FeAs Based High Temperature Superconductors
• Heavily electron-doped electronic structure and isotropic superconducting gap in AxFe2Se2 (A=K,Cs)
• Pairing Symmetry in a Two-Orbital Exchange Coupling Model of Oxypnictides
• Superconductivity up to 30 K in the vicinity of quantum critical point in BaFe${}_2$(As${}_{1-x}$P${}_x$)${}_2$
• Spin fluctuations and superconductivity in a 3D tight-binding model for BaFe2As2
• Three-dimensional Resonance in superconducting BaFe${}_{1.9}$Ni${}_{0.1}$As${}_2$
• Nodal superconducting gap structure in ferropnictide superconductor BaFe2(As0.7P0.3)2
• Low energy spin waves and magnetic interactions in SrFe${}_2$As${}_2$
• Superconductivity in LaFeAs${}_{1-x}$P${}_x$O: effect of chemical pressures and bond covalency
• Possible three dimensional nodes in the $s\pm$ superconducting gap of BaFe${}_2$(As${}_{1-x}$P${}_x$)${}_2$
• Nodes in the Gap Function of LaFePO, the Gap Function of the Fe(Se,Te) Systems, and the STM Signature of the s${}_{\pm }$ Pairing

Cited by in corpus (9)

• Nodal superconducting gap structure in ferropnictide superconductor BaFe2(As0.7P0.3)2
• Evidence for time-reversal symmetry breaking of the superconducting state near twin-boundary interfaces in FeSe
• Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study on iron-based superconductors
• Higher-order topological semimetals and nodal superconductors with an order-two crystalline symmetry
• Pairing Symmetry in Iron-Pnictide Superconductor KFe${}_2$As${}_2$
• Anomalous sharp peak in the London penetration depth induced by the nodeless-to-nodal superconducting transition in BaFe${}_2$(As${}_{1-x}$P${}_x$)${}_2$
• Effects of single- and multi-substituted Zn ions in doped-122 type iron-based superconductors
• Phase diagram of the isovalent phosphorous-substituted 122-type iron pnictides
• Orbital driven two-dome superconducting phases in multiorbital superconductors