Quasiparticle Scattering Interference in (K,Tl)FexSe2 Superconductors

Abstract

We model the quasiparticle interference (QPI) pattern in the recently discovered (K,Tl)Fe_xSe2 superconductors. We show in the superconducting state that, due to the absence of hole pockets at the Brillouin zone center, the quasiparticle scattering occurs around the momentum transfer q=(0,0) and (\pm \pi, \pm \pi) between electron pockets located at the zone boundary. More importantly, although both d_{x^2-y^2}-wave and s-wave pairing symmetry lead to nodeless quasiparticle excitations, distinct QPI features are predicted between both types of pairing symmetry. In the presence of a nonmagnetic impurity scattering, the QPI exhibits strongest scattering with q=(\pm \pi, \pm \pi) for the d_{x^2-y^2}-wave pairing symmetry; while the strongest scattering exhibits a ring-like structure centered around both q=(0,0) and (\pm \pi, \pm \pi) for the isotropic s-wave pairing symmetry. A unique QPI pattern has also been predicted due to a local pair-potential-type impurity scattering. The significant contrast in the QPI pattern between the d_{x^2-y^2}-wave and the isotropic s-wave pairing symmetry can be used to probe the pairing symmetry within the Fourier-transform STM technique.