Field-induced valence fluctuations in YbB12

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • R. Kurihara - , The University of Tokyo (Author)
  • A. Miyake - , The University of Tokyo (Author)
  • M. Tokunaga - , The University of Tokyo (Author)
  • A. Ikeda - , The University of Tokyo (Author)
  • Y. H. Matsuda - , The University of Tokyo (Author)
  • A. Miyata - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • D. I. Gorbunov - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • T. Nomura - , The University of Tokyo, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • S. Zherlitsyn - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • J. Wosnitza - , Clusters of Excellence ct.qmat: Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter, Chair of Physics of High Magnetic Fields, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • F. Iga - , Ibaraki University (Author)

Abstract

We performed high-magnetic-field ultrasonic experiments on YbB12 up to 59 T to investigate the valence fluctuations in Yb ions. In zero field, the longitudinal elastic constant C11, the transverse elastic constants C44 and C11-C12/2, and the bulk modulus CB show a hardening with a change of curvature at around 35 K indicating a small contribution of valence fluctuations to the elastic constants. When high magnetic fields are applied at low temperatures, CB exhibits a softening above a field-induced insulator-metal transition signaling field-induced valence fluctuations. Furthermore, at elevated temperatures, the field-induced softening of CB takes place at even lower fields and CB decreases continuously with field. Our analysis using the multipole susceptibility based on a two-band model reveals that the softening of CB originates from the enhancement of multipole-strain interaction in addition to the decrease of the insulator energy gap. This analysis indicates that field-induced valence fluctuations of Yb cause the instability of the bulk modulus CB.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number115103
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume103
Issue number11
Publication statusPublished - 3 Mar 2021
Peer-reviewedYes