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The role of spin–orbit coupling in the electronic structure of iron‐based superconductors (Phys. Status Solidi B 1/2017)
Author(s) -
Borisenko Sergey,
Evtushinsky Daniil,
Liu Zhonghao,
Morozov Igor,
Kappenberger Rhea,
Wurmehl Sabine,
Büchner Bernd,
Yaresko Alexander,
Kim Timur,
Hoesch Moritz,
Wolf Thomas,
Zhigadlo Nikolai
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
physica status solidi (b)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1521-3951
pISSN - 0370-1972
DOI - 10.1002/pssb.201770201
Subject(s) - condensed matter physics , brillouin zone , superconductivity , angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy , pairing , fermi surface , electronic structure , physics , spin–orbit interaction , fermi level , photoemission spectroscopy , coupling (piping) , spin (aerodynamics) , electron , orbit (dynamics) , degenerate energy levels , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , materials science , quantum mechanics , nuclear magnetic resonance , aerospace engineering , metallurgy , thermodynamics , engineering
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).]