Evidence of a universal and isotropic 2 Δ/k B T C ratio in 122-type iron pnictide superconductors over a wide doping range

Abstract

We have systematically investigated the doping and the directional dependence of the gap structure in the 122-type iron pnictide superconductors by point contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy. The studies were performed on single crystals of Ba1-xKxFe2As 2(x=0.29, 0.49, and 0.77) and SrFe1.74 Co0.26 As2 with a sharp tip of Pb or Au pressed along the c -axis or the ab -plane direction. The conductance spectra obtained on highly transparent contacts clearly show evidence of a robust superconducting gap. The normalized curves can be well described by the Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk model with a lifetime broadening. The determined gap value scales very well with the transition temperature, giving the 2Δ/ kB TC value of ∼3.1. The results suggest the presence of a universal coupling behavior in this class of iron pnictides over a broad doping range and independent of the sign of the doping. Moreover, conductance spectra obtained on c -axis junctions and ab -plane junctions indicate that the observed gap is isotropic in these superconductors. © 2010 The American Physical Society.