Emergent phases in iron pnictides: Double-Q antiferromagnetism, charge order and enhanced nematic correlations

Abstract

Electron correlations produce a rich phase diagram in the iron pnictides. Earlier theoretical studies on the correlation effect demonstrated how quantum fluctuations weaken and concurrently suppress a $C_2$-symmetric single-Q antiferromagnetic order and a nematic order. Here we examine the emergent phases near the quantum phase transition. For a $C_4$-symmetric collinear double-Q antiferromagnetic order, we show that it is accompanied by both a charge order and an enhanced nematic susceptibility. Our results provide understanding for several intriguing recent experiments in hole-doped iron arsenides, and bring out common physics that underlies the different magnetic phases of various iron-based superconductors.