Charge dynamics of the spin-density-wave state in BaFe2As2

We report on a thorough optical investigation of BaFe2As2 over a broad spectral range and as a function of temperature, focusing our attention on its spin-density-wave (SDW) phase transition at T-SDW = 135 K. While BaFe2As2 remains metallic at all temperatures, we observe a depletion in the far infrared energy interval of the optical conductivity below T-SDW, ascribed to the formation of a pseudogap-like feature in the excitation spectrum. This is accompanied by the narrowing of the Drude term consistent with the dc transport results and suggestive of suppression of scattering channels in the SDW state. About 20% of the spectral weight in the far infrared energy interval is affected by the SDW phase transition.