Spin Dynamics in Iron-based Layered Superconductor (La_{0.87}Ca_{0.13})FePO Revealed by ^{31}P and ^{139}La NMR Studies

Abstract

We report ^{31}P and ^{139}La NMR studies of (La_{0.87}Ca_{0.13})FePO, which is a family member of the recently discovered superconductor LaFeAs(O_{1-x}F_x). In the normal state, Knight shift and $1/T_1T$ show that a Fermi-liquid state with moderate ferromagnetic fluctuations emerges below 30K. From 1/T_1T of ^{31}P and ^{139}La, quasi-two dimensional electronic structure is suggested, in which the FeP layer is more conductive than the LaO layer. In the superconducting (SC) state, although a clear Meissner signal was observed, 1/T_1T increases below T_c, in contrast to a decrease of 1/T_1T due to the opening of a SC gap, suggesting that novel low-energy spin dynamics develop in the SC state.

Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 077006 (2008)