Anomalous superconducting state in LiFeAs implied by the⁷⁵As Knight shift measurement

Abstract

(75)As NMR investigation of a single crystal of superconducting LiFeAs is presented. The Knight shift and the in situ ac susceptibility measurements as a function of temperature and external field are indicative of two superconducting (SC) transition temperatures, each of which is associated with its own upper critical field. Strikingly, the Knight shift maintains its normal state value over a temperature range in the SC state before it drops abruptly, being consistent with spin-singlet pairing. Together with our previous NMR study, the anomalous SC state featuring the constant Knight shift is attributed to the extremely sensitive SC properties of LiFeAs, probably stemming from its proximity to a critical instability.