Tetragonal-orthorhombic phase coexistence under magnetic fields in BaFe$_2$As$_2$ and Sr(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_{x}$)$_2$As$_2$: evidence of magnetically driven structural transition

Abstract

Synchrotron x-ray diffraction experiments were performed on BaFe$_2$As$_2$ and Sr(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_{x}$)$_2$As$_2$ single crystals as a function of temperature and applied magnetic field along the tetragonal $[1 \bar{1} 0]$ direction, complemented by electrical resistivity and specific heat experiments. For a BaFe$_2$As$_2$ crystal with spin-density-wave antiferromagnetic ordering temperature $T_{AF}=132.5$ K and onset of the orthorhombic phase at $T_{o}=137$ K, the magnetic field favors the growth of tetragonal domains that compete with orthorhombic ones for $T \gtrsim T_{AF}$. For a Sr(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_{x}$)$_2$As$_2$ crystal with more separated transitions ($T_{AF} = 132$ K and $T_{o} = 152$ K), the crystal structure also shows significant field-dependence in a narrow temperature interval close to $T_{AF}$. These results favor magnetism as the driver of the structural and nematic transitions in 122 Fe pnictides.