Nature of the low-temperature anomalies in the physical properties of the intermediate-valent compound SmB6

Abstract

The transport properties (Hall coefficient, thermopower, and resistivity) of high-quality single-crystal samples of the classical mixed-valent compound SmB6 are investigated over a broad temperature range (1.6–300 K) in magnetic fields up to 45 T for the first time following the quasioptical measurements in the 0.6–4.5 meV frequency range [B. Gorshunov, N. Sluchanko, A. Volkov et al., submitted to Phys. Rev. B (1998)]. Measurements in the intrinsic conduction region permit determination of the gap width Eg≈20 meV and evaluation of the behavior of the mobility and concentration of light and heavy charge carriers, as well as the temperature dependence of the carrier relaxation time, in samarium hexaboride. The results of experimental investigations in the “impurity” conduction region (Eex≈3.5 meV) are discussed within the Kikoin-Mishchenko exciton-polaron model of charge fluctuations. Arguments supporting the formation of a metallic state with an electron-hole liquid in SmB6 at liquid-helium temperatures are presented.