Observation of lateral long range order in superconducting FeTe thin films

We find that the superconductivity in the thin films of the formerly believed non-superconducting parent compound FeTe is accompanied by an emergence of second order with a correlation length of 742 nm and 258 nm at 10 K and 300 K, respectively. The structural phase transition found in iron pnictide superconductors, in non-superconducting FeTe bulk samples, and in FeSe superconducting thin films is not observed in the superconducting FeTe thin films. The interplay between superconductivity and long range order may suggest the crucial role of competition between electronic localization and itinerancy which leads to strong quantum fluctuations in the FeTe system. (rapid communication)