Evidence for a preformed Cooper pair model in the pseudogap spectra of a Ca ₁₀ (Pt ₄ As ₈ )(Fe ₂ As ₂ ) ₅ single crystal with a nodal superconducting gap

For high-T _c superconductors, clarifying the role and origin of the pseudogap is essential for understanding the pairing mechanism. Among the various models describing the pseudogap, the preformed Cooper pair model is a potential candidate. Therefore, we present experimental evidence for the preformed Cooper pair model by studying the pseudogap spectrum observed in the optical conductivity of a Ca ₁₀ (Pt ₄ As ₈ )(Fe ₂ As ₂ ) ₅ (T _c = 34.6 K) single crystal. We observed a clear pseudogap structure in the optical conductivity and observed its temperature dependence. In the superconducting (SC) state, one SC gap with a gap size of Δ = 26 cm ⁻¹ , a scattering rate of 1/τ = 360 cm ⁻¹ and a low-frequency extra Drude component were observed. Spectral weight analysis revealed that the SC gap and pseudogap are formed from the same Drude band. This means that the pseudogap is a gap structure observed as a result of a continuous temperature evolution of the SC gap observed below T _c . This provides clear experimental evidence for the preformed Cooper pair model.