Microwave Surface-Impedance Measurements of the Magnetic Penetration Depth in Single Crystal Ba1-xKxFe2As2 Superconductors: Evidence for a Disorder-Dependent Superfluid Density

Abstract

We report high-sensitivity microwave measurements of the in-plane penetration depth $λ_{ab}$ and quasiparticle scattering rate $1/τ$ in several single crystals of hole-doped Fe-based superconductor Ba$_{1-x}$K$_x$Fe$_2$As$_2$ ($x\approx 0.55$). While power-law temperature dependence of $λ_{ab}$ with the power $\sim 2$ is found in crystals with large $1/τ$, we observe exponential temperature dependence of superfluid density consistent with the existence of fully opened two gaps in the cleanest crystal we studied. The difference may be a consequence of different level of disorder inherent in the crystals. We also find a linear relation between the low-temperature scattering rate and the density of quasiparticles, which shows a clear contrast to the case of d-wave cuprate superconductors with nodes in the gap. These results demonstrate intrinsically nodeless order parameters in the Fe-arsenides.

4 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Lett. Changed title as suggested by the PRL editors