Signatures of a quantum Griffiths phase close to an electronic nematic quantum phase transition

Journal article

In the vicinity of a quantum critical point, quenched disorder can lead to a quantum Griffiths phase, accompanied by an exotic power-law scaling with a continuously varying dynamical exponent that diverges in the zero-temperature limit. Here, we investigate a nematic quantum critical point in the iron-based superconductor FeSe 0.89 S 0.11 using applied hydrostatic pressure. We report an unusual crossing of the magnetoresistivity isotherms in the nonsuperconducting normal state that features a continuously varying dynamical exponent over a large temperature range. We interpret our results in terms of a quantum Griffiths phase caused by nematic islands that result from the local distribution of Se and S atoms. At low temperatures, the Griffiths phase is masked by the emergence of a Fermi liquid phase due to a strong nematoelastic coupling and a Lifshitz transition that changes the topology of the Fermi surface.

Authors: Reiss, P; Graf, D; Haghighirad, AA; Vojta, T; Coldea, A

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Volume: 127
• Issue: 24
• Article number: 246402
• Publication date: 2021-12-09
• Acceptance date: 2021-10-08
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.246402
• EISSN: 1079-7114
• ISSN: 0031-9007
• Language: English