Competing orders and spin-density-wave instability in La(O <sub>1−x</sub> F <sub>x</sub> )FeAs
Abstract
The interplay between different ordered phases, such as superconducting, charge or spin ordered phases, is of central interest in condensed-matter physics. The very recent discovery of superconductivity with a remarkable T <sub>c</sub>=26 K in Fe-based oxypnictide La(O<sub>1-x</sub>F<sub>x</sub>)FeAs (see Kamihara Y. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130 (2008) 3296) is a surprise to the scientific community and has generated tremendous interest. The pure LaOFeAs itself is not superconducting but shows an anomaly near 150 K in both resistivity and dc magnetic susceptibility. Here we provide combined experimental and theoretical evidences showing that a spin-density-wave (SDW) state develops at low temperature, in association with electron Nematic order. The electron-doping by F suppresses the SDW instability and induces the superconductivity. Therefore, the La(O<sub>1-x</sub>F<sub>x</sub>)FeAs offers an exciting new system showing competing orders in layered compounds.
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