Transport evidence for decoupled nematic and magnetic criticality in iron chalcogenides

Electronic nematicity in correlated metals often occurs alongside another instability such as magnetism. The question thus remains whether nematicity alone can drive unconventional superconductivity or anomalous (quantum critical) transport in such systems. In FeSe, nematicity emerges in isolation, providing a unique opportunity to address this question. Studies to date, however, have proved inconclusive; while signatures of nematic criticality are observed upon sulfur substitution, they appear to be quenched by the emergent magnetism under the application of pressure. Here, we study the temperature and pressure dependence of the low-temperature resistivity of FeSe1-xSx crystals at x values beyond the nematic quantum critical point. Two distinct components to the resistivity are revealed; one that is suppressed with increasing pressure and one that grows upon approaching the magnetic state at higher pressures. These findings hint that nematic and magnetic critical fluctuations in FeSe1-xSx are completely decoupled, in marked contrast to other Fe-based superconductors. The role nematicity and magnetic fluctuations play in the manifestation of unconventional superconductivity for Fe-based superconductors is actively debated with, so far, no clear consensus. Here, the authors study the resistive properties of sulfur-doped FeSe under applied pressure finding evidence of two distinct contributions to the electrical resistivity, which suggest a decoupling of nematic and magnetic fluctuations in this system.