Determination of the phase diagram of the electron doped superconductor Ba(Fe 1-x Co x ) 2 As 2

Systematic measurements of the resistivity, heat capacity, susceptibility and Hall coefficient are presented for single crystal samples of the electron-doped superconductor Ba(Fe{sub 1-x}Co{sub x}){sub 2}As{sub 2}. These data delineate an x-T phase diagram in which the single magnetic/structural phase transition that is observed for undoped BaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2} at 134 K apparently splits into two distinct phase transitions, both of which are rapidly suppressed with increasing Co concentration. Superconductivity emerges for Co concentrations above x {approx}0.025, and appears to coexist with the broken symmetry state for an appreciable range of doping, up to x {approx} 0.06. The optimal superconducting transition temperature appears to coincide with the Co concentration at which the magnetic/structural phase transitions are totally suppressed, at least within the resolution provided by the finite step size between crystals prepared with different doping levels. Superconductivity is observed for a further range of Co concentrations, before being completely suppressed for x {approx} 0.018 and above. The form of this x-T phase diagram is suggestive of an association between superconductivity and a quantum critical point arising from suppression of the magnetic and/or structural phase transitions.