Pressure dependence of the electronic structure and spin state in Fe(1.01)Se superconductors probed by x-ray absorption and x-ray emission spectroscopy

Abstract

Pressure dependence of electronic structures and spin states of iron-chalcogenide Fe(1.01)Se superconductors up to similar to 66 GPa has been investigated with x-ray emission spectra and x-ray absorption spectra with partial-fluorescence yield. The intensity of the pre-edge peak at energy of similar to 7112.7 eV of the Fe K-edge x-ray absorption spectrum of Fe1.01Se decreases progressively with pressure up to similar to 10 GPa. A new prepeak at energy of similar to 7113.7 eV develops for pressure above similar to 13 GPa, indicating formation of a new phase. The experimental and the calculated Fe K-edge absorption spectra of Fe(1.01)Se using the FDMNES code agree satisfactorily. The larger compression accompanied by significant distortion around the Fe atoms along the c axis in Fe(1.01)Se upon applying pressure suppresses the Fe 3d-Se 4p and Fe 4p-Se 4d hybridization. The applied pressure suppresses the nearest-neighbor ferromagnetic superexchange interaction and enhances spin fluctuations on the Fe sites in Fe(1.01)Se. A discontinuous variation of the integrated absolute difference values of the K beta emission line was observed, originating from a phase transition of Fe(1.01)Se for a pressure >12 GPa. Fe(1.01)Se shows a small net magnetic moment of Fe(2 broken vertical bar) at ambient pressure, probably arising from strong Fe-Fe spin fluctuations. The satellite line K beta' was reduced in intensity upon applying pressure and became absent for pressure >52 GPa, indicating a continuous reduction of the spin moment of Fe in Fe(1.01)Se superconductors. The experimental results provide insight into the spin state of Fe(1.01)Se superconductors under pressure.