Enhanced Superconductivity on the Tetragonal Lattice in FeSe under Hydrostatic Pressure

Superconductivity under pressure in FeSe ($T_{\rm c}$$\sim$7.5 K) has been investigated using single-crystal specimens through the measurements of DC magnetization and electrical resistivity. A characteristic three-step increase in $T_{\rm c}$ has been found under hydrostatic pressure up to $\sim$34 K above 7 GPa. The structural transition from a tetragonal phase to an orthorhombic phase ($T_{\rm s}$$\sim$87 K) is found to disappear at $P$$\sim$2.3 GPa, above which $T_{\rm c}$ increases rapidly, suggesting that the superconductivity is enhanced by the tetragonal environment. Under non-hydrostatic pressure, the increase in $T_{\rm c}$ is suppressed and the superconductive volume fraction is considerably reduced above 2 GPa, probably owing to the breaking of the tetragonal lattice symmetry by the uniaxial stress. The intimate correlation between the enhanced (suppressed) superconductivity and the tetragonality (orthorhombicity) in the phase diagram is a common feature of FeSe and other iron-pnictide superconductors.

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