Based on the five-orbital model, we study the effect of local impurity in iron pnictides, and find that the interband impurity scattering is promoted by the $d$-orbital degree of freedom. This fact means that the fully gapped sign-reversing $s$-wave state, which is predicted by spin fluctuation theories, is very fragile against impurities. In the BCS theory, only 1% impurities with intermediate strength induce huge pair breaking, resulting in the large in-gap state and prominent reduction in $T_c$, contrary to the prediction based on simple orbital-less models. The present study provides a stringent constraint on the pairing symmetry and the electronic states in iron pnictides.

• Received 12 June 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.177001