Dae-Jeong Kim

Hybridization gap and Fano resonance in SmB6

Significance Quantum entanglement may give rise to emerging phenomena and new states of matter. In the intermediate-valence material SmB6, this is realized via hybridization between localized 4f and conduction band states that, at sufficiently low temperatures, results in the screening of the 4f local moments by the conduction electrons and produces a so-called Kondo resonance in the density of states. The latter is examined by scanning tunneling spectroscopy down to temperatures well below the Kondo temperature. This atomically resolved spectroscopy allows one to distinguish between reconstructed and pristine surfaces and different surface terminations, all of which influence the spectroscopic results. These insights are vital for other, less local spectroscopic tools in the context of possible topologically protected surface states. Hybridization between conduction electrons and the strongly interacting f-electrons in rare earth or actinide compounds may result in new states of matter. Depending on the exact location of the concomitant hybridization gap with respect to the Fermi energy, a heavy fermion or an insulating ground state ensues. To study this entanglement locally, we conducted scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STS) measurements on the “Kondo insulator” SmB6. The vast majority of surface areas investigated were reconstructed, but infrequently, patches of varying sizes of nonreconstructed Sm- or B-terminated surfaces also were found. On the smallest patches, clear indications for the hybridization gap with logarithmic temperature dependence (as expected for a Kondo system) and for intermultiplet transitions were observed. On nonreconstructed surface areas large enough for coherent cotunneling, we were able to observe clear-cut Fano resonances. Our locally resolved STS indicated considerable finite conductance on all surfaces independent of their structure, not proving but leaving open the possibility of the existence of a topologically protected surface state.

Non-Kondo-like electronic structure in the correlated rare-earth hexaboride YbB6

We present angle-resolved photoemission studies on the rare-earth-hexaboride YbB(6), which has recently been predicted to be a topological Kondo insulator. Our data do not agree with the prediction and instead show that YbB(6) exhibits a novel topological insulator state in the absence of a Kondo mechanism. We find that the Fermi level electronic structure of YbB(6) has three 2D Dirac cone like surface states enclosing the Kramerss points, while the f orbital that would be relevant for the Kondo mechanism is ∼1  eV below the Fermi level. Our first-principles calculation shows that the topological state that we observe in YbB(6) is due to an inversion between Yb d and B p bands. These experimental and theoretical results provide a new approach for realizing novel correlated topological insulator states in rare-earth materials.

Additional energy scale in SmB6 at low-temperature

Topological insulators give rise to exquisite electronic properties because of their spin-momentum locked Dirac-cone-like band structure. Recently, it has been suggested that the required opposite parities between valence and conduction band along with strong spin-orbit coupling can be realized in correlated materials. Particularly, SmB6 has been proposed as candidate material for a topological Kondo insulator. Here we observe, by utilizing scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy down to 0.35 K, several states within the hybridization gap of about ±20 meV on well characterized (001) surfaces of SmB6. The spectroscopic response to impurities and magnetic fields allows to distinguish between dominating bulk and surface contributions to these states. The surface contributions develop particularly strongly below about 7 K, which can be understood in terms of a suppressed Kondo effect at the surface. Our high-resolution data provide insight into the electronic structure of SmB6, which reconciles many current discrepancies on this compound.

Pressure-induced quantum phase transitions in a Yb B6 single crystal

Topological insulators (TIs) containing 4f electrons have recently attracted intensive interests due to the possible interplay of their non-trivial topological properties and strong electronic correlations. YbB6 and SmB6 are the prototypical systems with such unusual properties, which may be tuned by external pressure to give rise to new emergent phenomena. Here, we report the first observation, through in-situ high pressure resistance, Hall, X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption measurements, of two pressure-induced quantum phase transitions (QPTs) in YbB6. Our data revealthat the two insulating phases are separated by a metallic phase due to the pressure-driven valence change of Yb f-orbitals. In combination with previous studies, our results suggest that the two insulating states may be topologically different in nature and originate from the d-p and d-f hybridization, respectively. The tunable topological properties of YbB6 revealed in this study may shed light on the intriguing correlation between the topology and the 4f electrons from the perspective of pressure dependent studies.

Magnetotransport measurements of the surface states of samarium hexaboride using Corbino structures

Utilizing Corbino disc structures, we have examined the magnetic field response of resistivity for the surface states of SmB6 on different crystalline surfaces at low temperatures. Our results reveal a hysteretic behavior whose magnitude depends on the magnetic field sweep rate and temperature. Although this feature becomes smaller when the field sweep is slower, a complete elimination or saturation is not observed in our slowest sweep-rate measurements, which is much slower than a typical magnetotransport trace. These observations cannot be explained by quantum interference corrections such as weak anti-localization. Instead, they are consistent with behaviors of glassy surface magnetic ordering, whose magnetic origin is most likely from samarium oxide (Sm2O3) forming on the surface during exposure to ambient conditions.The recent conjecture of a topologically protected surface state in

Superconductivity in non-centrosymmetric ThCoC2

{\mathrm{SmB}}_{6}

SmB6Photoemission: Past and Present

and the verification of robust surface conduction below 4 K have prompted a large effort to understand surface states. Conventional Hall transport measurements allow current to flow on all surfaces of a topological insulator, so such measurements are influenced by contributions from multiple surfaces of varying transport character. Instead, we study magnetotransport of

Planar tunneling spectroscopy of the topological Kondo insulator SmB6

{\mathrm{SmB}}_{6}

Effects of spin excitons on the surface states of SmB6 : A photoemission study

using a Corbino geometry, which can directly measure the conductivity of a single, independent surface. Both (011) and (001) crystal surfaces show a strong negative magnetoresistance at all magnetic field angles measured. The (011) surface has a carrier mobility of

Ta1-xHfxB: A new FeB-prototype superconductor

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