The spectroscopic signature of Kondo screening on single adatoms in Na(Fe0.96Co0.03Mn0.01)As

Abstract

The electronic states of surface adatoms in Na(Fe0.96Co0.03Mn0.01)As have been studied by low temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy. The spectra recorded on the adatoms display both superconducting coherence peaks and an asymmetric resonance in a larger energy scale. The Fano-type line shape of the spectra points towards a possible Kondo effect at play. The apparent energy position of the resonance peak shifts about 5 meV to the Fermi level when measured across the critical temperature, supporting that the Bogoliubov quasiparticle is responsible for the Kondo screening in the superconducting state. The tunneling spectra do not show the subgap bound states, which is explained as the weak pair breaking effect given by the weak and broad scattering potential after the Kondo screening.