Quantum vortex core and missing pseudogap in the multi-band BCS-BEC-crossover superconductor FeSe

Abstract

FeSe is argued as a superconductor in the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer Bose-Einstein-condensation crossover regime where the superconducting-gap size and the superconducting transition temperature Tc are comparable to the Fermi energy. In this regime, vortex bound states should be well quantized and the preformed pairs above Tc may yield a pseudogap in the quasiparticle-excitation spectrum. We performed spectroscopic-imaging scanning tunneling microscopy to search for these features. We found Friedel-like oscillations near the vortex, which manifest the quantized levels, whereas the pseudogap was not detected. These apparently conflicting observations may be related to the multi-band nature of FeSe.

5 pages, 4 figures. To appear in PRL. Supplemental Material is available at http://www.riken.jp/epmrt/Hanaguri/SI/FeSe_Vortex_Tdep_SM.pdf