Quasiparticle dynamics and phonon softening in FeSe superconductors

Abstract

Quasiparticle dynamics of FeSe single crystals revealed by dual-color transient reflectivity measurements (ΔR/R) provides unprecedented information on Fe-based superconductors. The amplitude of fast component in ΔR/R clearly tells a competing scenario between spin fluctuations and superconductivity. Together with the transport measurements, the relaxation time analysis further exhibits anomalous changes at 90 K and 230 K. The former manifests a structure phase transition as well as the associated phonon softening. The latter suggests a previously overlooked phase transition or crossover in FeSe. The electron-phonon coupling constant λ is found to be 0.16, identical to the value of theoretical calculations. Such a small λ demonstrates an unconventional origin of superconductivity in FeSe.

Final published version; 5 pages; 4 figures