In-plane optical spectral weight redistribution in the optimally doped Ba0.6 K0.4Fe2As2 superconductor

Abstract

We performed detailed temperature-dependent optical measurements on optimally doped Ba0.6K0.4Fe2As2 single crystal. We examine the changes of the in-plane optical conductivity spectral weight in the normal state and the evolution of the superconducting condensate in the superconducting state. In the normal state, the low-frequency spectral weight shows a metallic response with an arctan (T) dependence, indicating a T-linear scattering rate behavior for the carriers. A high energy spectral weight transfer associated with the Hund's coupling occurs from the low frequencies below 4000 cm−1 ∼ 5000 cm−1 to higher frequencies up to at least 10 cm−1. Its temperature dependence analysis suggests that the Hund's coupling strength is continuously enhanced as the temperature is reduced. In the superconducting state, the FGT sum rule is conserved according to the spectral weight estimation within the conduction bands, only about 40% of the conduction bands participates in the superconducting condensate indicating that Ba0.6K0.4Fe2As2 is in dirty limit.