Ion-selective scattering studied by the variable-energy electron irradiation of Ba${}_{0.2}$K${}_{0.8}$Fe${}_2$As${}_2$ superconductor

Abstract

Low-temperature variable-energy electron irradiation was used to induce non-magnetic disorder in a single crystal of hole-doped iron-based superconductor, Ba${}_{1-x}$K${}_x$Fe${}_2$As${}_2$, $x=$0.80. To avoid systematic errors, the beam energy was adjusted non-consequently for five values between 1.0 and 2.5 MeV, whence sample resistance was measured in-situ at 22 K. For all energies, the resistivity raises linearly with the irradiation fluence suggesting the creation of uncorrelated dilute point-like disorder (confirmed by simulations). The rate of the resistivity increase peaks at energies below 1.5 MeV. Comparison with calculated partial cross-sections points to the predominant creation of defects in the iron sublattice. Simultaneously, superconducting $T_c$, measured separately between the irradiation runs, is monotonically suppressed as expected since it depends on the total scattering rate, hence total cross-section, which is a monotonically increasing function of energy. Our work confirms experimentally an often-made assumption of the dominant role of the iron sub-lattice in iron-based superconductors.

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Cited by in corpus (2)

• Slope of the upper critical field at $T_c$ in two-band superconductors with non-magnetic disorder: $s_{++}$ superconductivity in ${\text{Ba}}_{1-x}{\text{K}}_x{\text{Fe}}_2{\text{As}}_2$
• Enhancement of the Curie temperature in single crystalline ferromagnetic LaCrGe${}_3$ by electron irradiation-induced disorder