Highly anisotropic energy gap in superconducting Ba(Fe$_{0.9}$Co$_{0.1}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$ from optical conductivity measurements

Abstract

We have measured the complex dynamical conductivity, $σ= σ_{1} + iσ_{2}$, of superconducting Ba(Fe$_{0.9}$Co$_{0.1}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$ ($T_{c} = 22$ K) at terahertz frequencies and temperatures 2 - 30 K. In the frequency dependence of $σ_{1}$ below $T_{c}$, we observe clear signatures of the superconducting energy gap opening. The temperature dependence of $σ_{1}$ demonstrates a pronounced coherence peak at frequencies below 15 cm$^{-1}$ (1.8 meV). The temperature dependence of the penetration depth, calculated from $σ_{2}$, shows power-law behavior at the lowest temperatures. Analysis of the conductivity data with a two-gap model, gives the smaller isotropic s-wave gap of $Δ_{A} = 3$ meV, while the larger gap is highly anisotropic with possible nodes and its rms amplitude is $Δ_{0} = 8$ meV. Overall, our results are consistent with a two-band superconductor with an $s_{\pm}$ gap symmetry.

6 pages, 4 figures, discussion on pair-barking scattering and possible lifting of the nodes is added