Fermi surface shrinking, band shifts and interband coupling in iron-based pnictides

Band shifts are systematically observed in pnictides using de Hass-van Alphen and ARPES techniques. Most interesting, such shifts result to be band-sensitive, so that hole-like bands are shifted downwards while electron-like ones are shifted upwards. In this contribution we present a comprehensive explanation for the origin of such band shifts. Using a four band Eliashberg analysis, we show that they are a natural consequence of the multiband character of these systems and of the strong particle-hole asymmetry of the bands. We also show that the relative sign of such shifts provides a direct experimental evidence of a dominant interband scattering. A quantitative analysis in LaFePO yields a spin-mediated interband coupling of the order V approximate to 0.46 eV which corresponds to a mass enhancement Z approximate to 1.5. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved