Nonmetallic Low-Temperature Normal State of K0.70Fe1.46Se1.85Te0.15

Abstract

The normal-state in-plane resistivity below the zero-field superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ and the upper critical field Hc2 were measured by suppressing superconductivity in pulsed magnetic fields for K0.70Fe1.46Se1.85Te0.15. The normal-state resistivity $ρ_{ab}$ is found to increase logarithmically with decrasing temperature as $\frac{T}{T_c}\rightarrow 0$. Similar to granular metals, our results suggest that a superconductor - insulator transition below zero-field T$_{c}$ may be induced in high magnetic fields. This is related to the intrinsic real-space phase-separated states common to all inhomogeneous superconductors.

6 pages, 4 figures