Kondo Hole Scattering in the Strongly Correlated Topological Insulator SmB<sub>6</sub>

ORAL

Abstract

Quantum materials combining strong correlations and spin-orbit coupling are predicted to generate multiple exotic ground states. For example, in topological Kondo insulators, interactions within a lattice of local moments open a hybridization gap in the conduction band, within which topologically protected heavy Dirac surface states emerge. When a lattice moment is removed, the resulting Kondo hole is predicted to create oscillations in the electron screening cloud, with accompanying magnetic fluctuations. Here we use scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to image the interaction between a Kondo hole and the topological surface state in SmB6. We show that Sm vacancies induce oscillations in the hybridization gap and electrochemical potential, matching predictions for Kondo holes [1], while B-site defects do not. Furthermore, we find that only Sm-site defects cause significant scattering of the topological surface state. Our results demonstrate how intrinsic, nominally nonmagnetic defects can generate magnetic fluctuations that provide a new mechanism for scattering topological surface states.

[1] Figgins & Morr, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 066401 (2011).

*This work was supported by NSF DMR-1410480, DOE DE-FG02-05ER46225 and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation GBMF4536.

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Presenters

  • Harris Pirie

    • Harvard University
    • Physics, Harvard University
    • Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
    • Department of Physics, Harvard University

Authors

  • Harris Pirie

    • Harvard University
    • Physics, Harvard University
    • Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
    • Department of Physics, Harvard University

  • Yu Liu

    • Harvard University
    • Department of Physics, Harvard University

  • Sagen C Cocklin

    • University of Illinois at Chicago

  • Eric Mascot

    • University of Illinois at Chicago

  • Pengcheng Chen

    • Harvard University
    • Princeton University

  • Shanta Saha

    • Physics, University of Maryland
    • Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, Department of Physics, University of Maryland
    • University of Maryland, College Park & NIST
    • Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park
    • University of Maryland
    • University of Maryland - College Park

  • Xiangfeng Wang

    • Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park
    • University of Maryland

  • Johnpierre Paglione

    • Physics, University of Maryland
    • University of Maryland, College Park
    • Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, University of Maryland College Park
    • Center for Nanophysics and Advance Materials, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
    • University of Maryland, College Park & NIST
    • Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park
    • University of Maryland
    • University of Maryland - College Park

  • Mohammad H Hamidian

    • Department of Physics, Harvard University
    • Harvard University
    • Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States

  • Dirk Morr

    • University of Illinois at Chicago
    • Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago

  • Jennifer Hoffman

    • Physics, Harvard University
    • Department of Physics, Harvard University
    • Harvard University
    • Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States