Surface orbital order and chemical potential inhomogeneity of the iron-based superconductor FeTe0.55Se0.45 investigated with special STM tips

Abstract

The atomically clean surface of the iron-based superconductor FeTe0.55Se0.45 is investigated by low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope (STM) with different tip apex states. We show that the scattering channel between the Γ and X/Y points of the sample's Brillouin zone can be visualized clearly by a supersharp STM tip. Furthermore, by manipulating a single Fe atom onto the tip apex, signatures of the orbital nature of the subsurface Fe layer of FeTe0.55Se0.45 can be identified. By preparing a charged tip state, the intrinsic spatial inhomogeneity of the chemical potential of FeTe0.55Se0.45 can be revealed. As a result, three different types of vortex bound states originating from locally varying topological properties of the FeTe0.55Se0.45 surface are observed by scanning tunneling spectroscopy.