Interaction of the Topological Surface States with Spin Excitons in SmB<sub>6</sub> – Dependency on the Crystallinity

ORAL

Abstract

The true nature of the topological surface states (TSS) in SmB6 still remains to be unveiled, despite intensive research [1]. Our previous tunneling study [2] not only found evidence for surface Dirac cones but also unraveled their intriguing topological nature due to the inherent interaction [3] with spin excitons [4]. Extended to Sm-deficient single crystals, it now reveals how their evolution is influenced delicately by such interaction depending on the crystallinity [5]. Seemingly contradictory to the anticipated topological protection, this can be understood by considering the interplay between strong correlations and topological effects. We will present how the temperature evolution of tunneling conductance differs and discuss how spin excitons influence the emergence of coherent TSS. [1] M. Dzero et al., Annu. Rev. Condens. Matter Phys. 7, 249 (2016). [2] W. K. Park et al., PNAS 113, 6599 (2016); L. Sun et al., PRB 95, 195129 (2017). [3] W. T. Fuhrman et al., PRL 114, 036401 (2015). [4] G. A. Kapilevich et al., PRB 92, 085113 (2015). [5] M. E. Valentine et al., arXiv:1712.01325v1.

*This wok was supported by NSF/DMR-1704712 (FSU), NSF/DMR-1644779 and the State of Florida (NHMFL), NSF/DMR-0801253 (UCI), DOE/BES EFRC DE-SC0019331 (JHU-IQM). TMM acknowledges JHU Catalyst Fund.

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Presenters

  • Wan Kyu Park

    • Florida State University
    • Physics, Florida State University
    • National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University

Authors

  • Wan Kyu Park

    • Florida State University
    • Physics, Florida State University
    • National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University

  • Jennifer Sittler

    • Physics, Florida State University
    • National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University

  • Laura H Greene

    • Florida State University
    • Physics, Florida State University
    • National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University

  • Dae-Jeong Kim

    • Seoul National University
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California- Irvine
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California - Irvine

  • Zachary Fisk

    • University of California - Irvine
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine
    • University of California, Irvine
    • UC Irvine
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California- Irvine
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California - Irvine
    • Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine

  • Wesley T Fuhrman

    • Institute for Quantum Matter, Johns Hopkins University
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University
    • Johns Hopkins University

  • Juan Chamorro

    • Institute for Quantum Matter, Johns Hopkins University
    • Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University

  • Seyed Koohpayeh

    • Johns Hopkins
    • Johns Hopkins University
    • Institute for Quantum Matter, Johns Hopkins University
    • Henry A. Rowland Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University

  • William Phelan

    • Institute for Quantum Matter, Johns Hopkins University

  • Tyrel McQueen

    • Johns Hopkins University
    • Johns Hopkins Univ
    • Institute for Quantum Matter, Johns Hopkins University
    • Henry A. Rowland Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University