Low Field Magnetoresistance Measurements on the Surface States of Samarium Hexaboride using Corbino Structures

ORAL

Abstract

Recently, SmB$_{6}$ attracted great attention by numerous reports suggesting it to be an ideal strong 3D topological insulator. By spin-momentum locking, the quantum correction of conductivity of a topological surface state of this material is expected to result in weak anti-localization (WAL). To study this effect, we have performed low field magnetorestance measurements on (100) and (110) Corbino samples at temperatures down to 60 mK. Many of the Corbino samples that we have studied so far have a dip in the magnetoresistance trace that resembles the WAL feature. The size and temperature dependence of this feature are in general consistent with those expected from a quantum interference correction. However, after careful investigation we found the features shrink in amplitude with slower magnetic field sweep rates. Also, the traces have a hysteretic signal of an unknown origin. The potential coupling between a magnetic oxide layer forming on the surfaces of SmB$_{6}$ and the topological surface states will be discussed.

*This project was performed in part at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, FL, and in the Lurie Nanofabrication Facility, a member of NNIN, supported by NSF. This project was funded by NSF grant \#DMR-1006500.

Authors

  • Yun Suk Eo

    • Randall Laboratory of Physics, University of Michigan
    • Dept. of Physics, University of Michigan
  • Steven Wolgast

    • Randall Laboratory of Physics, University of Michigan
    • Dept. of Physics, University of Michigan
  • Cagliyan Kurdak

    • Randall Laboratory of Physics, University of Michigan
    • Dept. of Physics, University of Michigan
  • Gang Li

    • Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor
    • University of Michigan
    • Univ. of Michigan
    • Randall Laboratory of Physics, University of Michigan
    • Dept. of Physics, University of Michigan
    • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • Ziji Xiang

    • Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor
    • Randall Laboratory of Physics, University of Michigan
  • Colin Tinsman

    • Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor
    • University of Michigan
    • Randall Laboratory of Physics, University of Michigan
  • Tomoya Asaba

    • Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor
    • Randall Laboratory of Physics, University of Michigan
    • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • Benjamin Lawson

    • Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor
    • Randall Laboratory of Physics, University of Michigan
    • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • Fan Yu

    • Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor
    • Randall Laboratory of Physics, University of Michigan
    • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • Lu Li

    • Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor
    • University of Michigan
    • Randall Laboratory of Physics, University of Michigan
    • Dept. of Physics, University of Michigan
    • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • Kai Sun

    • Randall Laboratory of Physics, University of Michigan
    • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
    • University of Michigan
    • Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor
    • Dept. of Physics, University of Michigan
  • J.W. Allen

    • Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor
    • Randall Laboratory of Physics, University of Michigan
    • Dept. of Physics, University of Michigan
  • Dae-Jeong Kim

    • University of California, Irvine
    • University of California Irvine
    • Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine
  • Zachary Fisk

    • University of California, Irvine
    • Univ of California - Irvine
    • Departament of Physics and Astronomy, University of California at Irvine, 92697, Irvine - CA, USA
    • University of California at Irvine
    • University of California Irvine
    • Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine