Muon spin relaxation investigation of anomalous magnetism in pure and Fe-doped SmB6

ORAL

Abstract

The intermediate-valence compound SmB$_6$ is a well-known Kondo insulator, in which hybridization of itinerant conduction electrons with localized \textit{f}-electrons leads to a transition from metallic to insulating behaviour at low temperatures. In recent years SmB$_6$ has attracted considerable attention with studies suggesting that a topological insulating state arises at low temperatures. We have carried out muon spin rotation/relaxation ($\mu$SR) measurements on both pure and 0.5$\%$ Fe-doped SmB$_6$ single crystals. In zero field (ZF) we observe a saturated relaxation rate at low temperatures, indicative of slow fluctuating magnetic moments. The saturated relaxation rate occurs in the same temperature region where the resistance saturates. This is surprising given that the low-temperature conduction arises from two-dimensional surface states that occur in the hybridization gap, whereas the $\mu$SR measurements exclusively probe the bulk. Previously the saturated ZF relaxation rate was attributed to in-gap magnetic states. However, measurements in a magnetic field suggest that this is a consequence of uncompensated Sm moments in a truly insulating bulk state.

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Authors

  • Kola Akintola

    • Simon Fraser University, BC, Canada

  • Anand Pal

    • Simon Fraser University, BC, Canada

  • Matt Potma

    • Simon Fraser University & Kwantlen Polytechnic University, BC, Canada

  • Shanta Saha

    • Department of Physics, University of Maryland, MD, USA

  • Xiangfeng Wang

    • Department of Physics, University of Maryland, MD, USA

  • Johnpierre Paglione

    • Univ of Maryland-College Park
    • Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park 20742, USA
    • University of Maryland
    • Department of Physics, University of Maryland, MD, USA; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
    • Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA

  • Jeff Sonier

    • Simon Fraser University, BC, Canada; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
    • Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University