Specific heat measurements of Ba0.68 K0.32 Fe2 As2 single crystals: evidence for a multiband strong-coupling superconducting state

The specific heat of high-purity Ba0.68 K0.32 Fe2 As2 single crystals with the highest reported superconducting Tc =38.5  K was studied. The electronic specific heat Cp below Tc shows two gap features, with Δ1≈11  meV and Δ2≈3.5  meV obtained from an α-model analysis. The reduced gap value, 2Δmax/kBTc≈6.6, the magnitude of the specific-heat jump, ΔCp(Tc)/Tc, and its slope below Tc exhibit a strong-coupling character. We also show that an Eliashberg model with two hole and two electron bands gives the correct values of Tc, the superconducting gaps, and the free-energy difference.