Nematicity in the superconducting mixed state of strain detwinned underdoped Ba(Fe_1-xCo_x)₂As₂

Abstract

Evidence of nematic effects in the mixed superconducting phase of slightly underdoped Ba(Fe_1-xCo_x)₂As₂ is reported. We have found strong in-plane resistivity anisotropy for crystals in different strain conditions. For these compositions, there is no magnetic long-range order, so the description may be ascribed to the interplay between the superconducting and nematic order parameters. A piezoelectric-based apparatus is used to apply tensile or compressive strain to tune nematic domain orientation in order to examine intrinsic nematicity. Measurements are done under a rotating magnetic field, and the analysis of the angular dependence of physical quantities identifies the cases in which the sample is detwinned. Furthermore, the angular dependence of the data allows us to evaluate the effects of nematicity on the in-plane superconductor stiffness. Our results show that although nematicity contributes in a decisive way to the conduction properties, its contributions to the anisotropy properties of the stiffness of the superconducting order parameter is not as significant in these samples.