Observation of a well-defined hybridization gap and in-gap states on the SmB6 (001) surface

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Zhixiang Sun - , Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) (Author)
  • Ana Maldonado - , University of St Andrews (Author)
  • Wendel S. Paz - , Technical University of Madrid (Author)
  • Dmytro S. Inosov - , Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute), TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Andreas P. Schnyder - , Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) (Author)
  • J. J. Palacios - , Technical University of Madrid (Author)
  • Natalya Yu. Shitsevalova - , National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Author)
  • Vladimir B. Filipov - , National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Author)
  • Peter Wahl - , University of St Andrews (Author)

Abstract

The rise of topology in condensed-matter physics has generated strong interest in identifying novel quantum materials in which topological protection is driven by electronic correlations. Samarium hexaboride is a Kondo insulator for which it has been proposed that a band inversion between 5d and 4f bands gives rise to topologically protected surface states. However, unambiguous proof of the existence and topological nature of these surface states is still missing, and its low-energy electronic structure is still not fully established. Here we present a study of samarium hexaboride by ultralow-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. We obtain clear atomically resolved topographic images of the sample surface. Our tunneling spectra reveal signatures of a hybridization gap with a size of about 8 meV and with a reduction of the differential conductance inside the gap by almost half, and surprisingly, several strong resonances below the Fermi level. The spatial variations of the energy of the resonances point toward a microscopic variation of the electronic states by the different surface terminations. High-resolution tunneling spectra acquired at 100 mK reveal a splitting of the Kondo resonance, possibly due to the crystal electric field.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number235107
Number of pages8
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume97
Issue number23
Publication statusPublished - 6 Jun 2018
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85048368849

Keywords

Keywords

  • LOW-TEMPERATURE, FANO RESONANCE, INSULATOR SMB6, KONDO-LATTICE, WORK FUNCTION, HIDDEN ORDER, ENERGY, ANISOTROPY, URU2SI2

Library keywords