Nodeless vs nodal order parameters in LiFeAs and LiFeP superconductors

Abstract

High-precision measurements of magnetic penetration depth $\lambda$ in clean single crystals of LiFeAs and LiFeP superconductors reveal contrasting low-energy quasiparticle excitations. In LiFeAs the low-temperature $\lambda(T)$ shows a flat dependence indicative of a fully gapped state, which is consistent with previous studies. In contrast, LiFeP exhibits a $T$-linear dependence of superfluid density $\propto \lambda^{-2}$, indicating a nodal superconducting order parameter. A systematic comparison of quasiparticle excitations in the 1111, 122, and 111 families of iron-pnictide superconductors implies that the nodal state is induced when the pnictogen height from the iron plane decreases below a threshold value of $\sim 1.33$\,\AA.