Pressure-driven quantum criticality in iron-selenide superconductors

We report a finding of a pressure-induced quantum critical transition in K _0.8Fe _xSe ₂ (x=1.7 and 1.78) superconductors through in situ high-pressure electrical transport and x-ray diffraction measurements in diamond anvil cells. Transitions from metallic Fermi liquid behavior to non-Fermi liquid behavior and from antiferromagnetism to paramagnetism are found in the pressure range of 9.2-10.3 GPa, in which superconductivity tends to disappear. The change around the quantum critical point from the coexisting antiferromagnetism state and the Fermi liquid behavior to the paramagnetism state and the non-Fermi liquid behavior in the iron-selenide superconductors demonstrates a unique mechanism for their quantum critical transition.