Quasi-one Dimensional Nanostructures as Sign of Nematicity in Iron Pnictides and Chalcogenides

Abstract

Impurity scattering is found to lead to quasi-one dimensional nanoscale modulation of the local density of states in the iron pnictides and chalcogenides. This `quasiparticle interference' feature is remarkably similar across a wide variety of pnictide and chalcogenide phases, suggesting a common origin. We show that a unified understanding of the experiments can be obtained by simply invoking a four-fold symmetry breaking $d_{xz}-d_{yz}$ orbital splitting, of a magnitude already suggested by the experiments. This can explain the one-dimensional characteristics in the local density of states observed in the orthorhombic nematic, tetragonal paramagnetic, as well as the spin-density wave and superconducting states in these materials.

6 pages, 5 figures (accepted in PRB Rapid Communication)

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Cited by in corpus (2)

• $k_z$ selective scattering within Quasiparticle Interference measurements of FeSe
• Hund's coupling and electronic anisotropy in the spin-density wave state of iron pnictides