Modulation of pairing symmetry with bond disorder in unconventional superconductors

We study a two-orbital $t$-$J_1$-$J_2$ model, originally developed to describe iron-based superconductors at low energies, in the presence of bond disorder (via next-nearest-neighbor $J_2$-bond dilution). By using the Bogoliubov--de Gennes approach, we self-consistently calculate the local pairing amplitudes and the corresponding density of states, which demonstrate a change of dominant pairing symmetry from $s_\pm$ wave to $d$ wave when increasing disorder strength as long as $J_1\lesssim J_2$. Moreover, the combined pairing interaction and strong bond disorder lead to the formation of $s_\pm$ wave "islands" with length scale of the superconducting coherence length embedded in a $d$ wave "sea." This picture is further complemented by the disorder-averaged pair-pair correlation functions, distinct from the case with potential disorder, where the "sea" is insulating. Due to this inevitable formation of spatial inhomogeneity, the superconducting $T_c$ determined by the superfluid density $\rho_s(T)$ obviously deviates from the value predicted by the conventional Abrikosov-Gorkov theory, where the pairing amplitudes are viewed as uniformly suppressed as the disorder increases.