In Situ Local Imaging of Ferromagnetism and Superconductivity in RbEuFe₄As₄

The coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism is an intrinsically interesting research focus in condensed matter physics but the study is limited by low superconducting (Tc) and magnetic (Tₘ) transition temperatures in related materials. Here, we used a scanning superconducting quantum interference device to image the in-situ diamagnetic and ferromagnetic responses of RbEuFe₄As₄ with high Tc and Tₘ. We observed significant suppression of superfluid density in vicinity of the magnetic phase transition, signifying fluctuation-enhanced magnetic scatterings between Eu spins and Fe 3d conduction electrons. Intriguingly, we observed multiple ferromagnetic domains which should be absent in an ideal magnetic helical phase. The formation of these domains demonstrates a weak c-axis ferromagnetic component probably arising from Eu spin-canting effect, indicative of possible superconductivity-driven domain Meissner and domain vortex-antivortex phases as revealed in EuFe₂(As0.79P0.21)₂. Our observations highlight RbEuFe₄As₄ is a unique system which includes multiple interplay channels between superconductivity and ferromagnetism.