Distinguishing $s^{\pm}$ and $s^{++}$ electron pairing symmetries by neutron spin resonance in superconducting NaFe$_{0.935}$Co$_{0.045}$As

Abstract

A determination of the superconducting (SC) electron pairing symmetry forms the basis for establishing a microscopic mechansim for superconductivity. For iron pnictide superconductors, the $s^\pm$-pairing symmetry theory predicts the presence of a sharp neutron spin resonance at an energy below the sum of hole and electron SC gap energies ($E\leq 2Δ$) below $T_c$. On the other hand, the $s^{++}$-pairing symmetry expects a broad spin excitation enhancement at an energy above $2Δ$ below $T_c$. Although the resonance has been observed in iron pnictide superconductors at an energy below $2Δ$ consistent with the $s^\pm$-pairing symmetry, the mode has also be interpreted as arising from the $s^{++}$-pairing symmetry with $E\ge 2Δ$ due to its broad energy width and the large uncertainty in determining the SC gaps. Here we use inelastic neutron scattering to reveal a sharp resonance at E=7 meV in SC NaFe$_{0.935}$Co$_{0.045}$As ($T_c = 18$ K). On warming towards $T_c$, the mode energy hardly softens while its energy width increases rapidly. By comparing with calculated spin-excitations spectra within the $s^{\pm}$ and $s^{++}$-pairing symmetries, we conclude that the ground-state resonance in NaFe$_{0.935}$Co$_{0.045}$As is only consistent with the $s^{\pm}$-pairing, and is inconsistent with the $s^{++}$-pairing symmetry.