Magnetic-superconducting phase boundary of SmFeAsO$_{1-x}$F$_{x}$ studied via muon spin rotation: Unified behavior in a pnictide family

Abstract

We present uSR investigations on SmFeAsO_1-xF_x showing coexistence of magnetic order and superconductivity only in a very narrow F-doping range. The sharp crossover between the two types of order is similar to that observed in LaFeAsO_1-xF_x, suggesting a common behavior for the 1111 pnictides. The analysis of the muon asymmetry demonstrates that the coexistence must be nanoscopic, i.e. the two phases must be finely interspersed over a typical length-scale of few nm. In this regime both the magnetic and the superconducting transition temperatures collapse to very low values. Our data suggest a competition between the two order parameters

new title; fig3 changed; new inset in fig4; little changes in abstract, introduction and conclusions. Accepted for publication in Phys Rev B