Surface- and pressure-induced bulk Kondo breakdown in SmB6

Abstract

Motivated by the prediction of surface Kondo breakdown in topological Kondo insulators, we investigated the valence and magnetism of SmB6 with x-ray absorption and magnetic circular dichroism at the Sm M 4,5 and L 2 edges with surface and bulk sensitivity, respectively. A higher Sm valence state at the surface and in the bulk under pressure indicates the surface-and pressure-induced bulk Kondo breakdown. We confirmed the different magnetization origin from the surface (f electron) to the bulk (d electron) and ascertained the direct relationship between the disappearance of the Sm L 2-edge x-ray magnetic circular dichroism signal and the closure of the d-f hybridization gap in SmB6 bulk under pressure, paving the way for further investigations of the Kondo insulators. Above P c = 8.5 GPa, a more localized 4f state with higher valence and the disappearing of the 5d magnetism are observed, suggesting the closure of the hybridization gap in the bulk.