Competition of local-moment ferromagnetism and superconductivity in Co-substituted EuFe2As2

Abstract

In contrast to SrFe2As2, where only the iron possesses a magnetic moment, in EuFe2As2 an additional large, local magnetic moment is carried by Eu2+. Like SrFe 2As2, EuFe2As2 exhibits a spin-density wave transition at high temperatures, but in addition, the magnetic moments of the Eu2+ order at around 20 K. The interplay of pressure-induced superconductivity and the Eu2+ order leads to a behavior which is reminiscent of re-entrant superconductivity as it was observed, for example, in the ternary Chevrel phases or in the rare-earth nickel borocarbides. Here, we study the delicate interplay of the ordering of the Eu2+ moments and superconductivity in EuFe1.9Co 0.1As2, where application of external pressure makes it possible to sensitively tune the ratio of the magnetic (TC) and the superconducting (Tc,onset) critical temperatures. We find that superconductivity disappears once TC > Tc,onset. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.