Local orthorhombicity in the magnetic $C_4$ phase of the hole-doped iron-arsenide superconductor Sr${}_{1-x}$Na${}_x$Fe${}_2$As${}_2$

Abstract

We report temperature-dependent pair distribution function measurements of Sr${}_{1-x}$Na${}_x$Fe${}_2$As${}_2$, an iron-based superconductor system that contains a magnetic phase with reentrant tetragonal symmetry, known as the magnetic $C_4$ phase. Quantitative refinements indicate that the instantaneous local structure in the $C_4$ phase is comprised of fluctuating orthorhombic regions with a length scale of $\sim$2 nm, despite the tetragonal symmetry of the average static structure. Additionally, local orthorhombic fluctuations exist on a similar length scale at temperatures well into the paramagnetic tetragonal phase. These results highlight the exceptionally large nematic susceptibility of iron-based superconductors and have significant implications for the magnetic $C_4$ phase and the neighboring $C_2$ and superconducting phases.

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Cited by in corpus (13)

• Quantitative characterization of short-range orthorhombic fluctuations in FeSe through pair distribution function analysis
• Coupling of structure to magnetic and superconducting orders in quasi-one-dimensional ${\text{K}}_2{\text{Cr}}_3{\text{As}}_3$
• Photoinduced ultrafast dynamics of local nematicity and lattice distortions in FeSe crystals
• Short-range nematic fluctuations in Sr1-xNaxFe2As2 superconductors
• Hidden local symmetry breaking in a kagome-lattice magnetic Weyl semimetal
• Strong Spin Resonance Mode associated with suppression of soft magnetic ordering in Hole-doped Ba1-xNaxFe2As2
• Nematic spin correlations pervading the phase diagram of FeSe${}_{1-x}$S${}_x$
• Soft elastic constants from phonon spectroscopy in hole-doped Ba${}_{1-x}$(K,Na)${}_x$Fe${}_2$As${}_2$ and Sr${}_{1-x}Na$_x$Fe$_2$As$_2$
• Role of Local Ru Hexamers in Superconductivity of Ruthenium Phosphide
• Simultaneous development of antiferromagnetism and local symmetry breaking in a kagome magnet (Co${}_{0.45}$Fe${}_{0.55}$)Sn
• Local Structure of Mott Insulating Iron Oxychalcogenides La${}_2$O${}_2$Fe${}_2$O$M$${}_2$ ($M$ = S, Se)
• Edwards-Anderson parameter and local Ising-nematicity in FeSe revealed via NMR spectral broadening
• Decoupling of Lattice and Orbital Degrees of Freedom in an Iron-Pnictide Superconductor