Kondo Insulator Research Articles

Evidence for large thermodynamic signatures of in-gap fermionic quasiparticle states in a Kondo insulator

The mixed-valence compound YbB12 displays paradoxical quantum oscillations in electrical resistivity and magnetic torque in a regime with a well-developed insulating charge gap and in the absence of an electronic Fermi surface. However, signatures of such unusual fermionic quasiparticles in other bulk thermodynamic observables have been missing. Here we report the observation of a series of sharp double-peak features in the specific heat as a function of the magnetic field. The measured Hall resistivity evolves smoothly across the field values at which the characteristic anomalies appear in the thermodynamic response and rules out the possibility of conventional electrons as their origin. Our observations of thermodynamic anomalies in a bulk three-dimensional electrical insulator provide the evidence for the presence of emergent dispersing fermionic excitations within the insulating bulk, which sets the stage for further investigation of electron fractionalization in other correlated mixed-valence compounds.

Generic Approach to Intrinsic Magnetic Second-Order Topological Insulators via Inverted p-d Orbitals.

The integration of intrinsically magnetic and topologically nontrivial two-dimensional materials holds tantalizing prospects for exotic quantum anomalous Hall insulators and magnetic second-order topological insulators (SOTIs). Compared with their well-studied nonmagnetic counterparts, the pursuit of intrinsic magnetic SOTIs remains limited. In this work, we address this gap by focusing on p-d orbitals inversion, a fundamental but often overlooked phenomena in the construction of topological materials. We begin by developing a theoretical framework to elucidate p-d orbital inversion through a combined density-functional theory calculation and Wannier downfolding. Subsequently we showcase the generality of this concept in realizing ferromagnetism SOTIs by identifying two real materials with distinct lattices: 1T-VS2 monolayer in a hexagonal lattice and CrAs monolayer in a square lattice. We further compare it with other mechanisms requiring spin-orbit coupling and explore the similarities to topological Kondo insulators. Our findings establish a generic pathway toward intrinsic magnetic SOTIs.

Emergence and evolution of electronic modes with temperature in spin-gapped Mott and Kondo insulators

Electronic modes emerge within the band gap at nonzero temperature in strongly correlated insulators such as Mott and Kondo insulators, exhibiting momentum-shifted magnetic dispersion relations from the band edges. As the temperature increases, the emergent modes gain considerable spectral weights and form robust bands that differ from the zero-temperature bands. Here, the origin of the emergent modes, their relation to doping-induced modes, and how their spectral weights increase with temperature are clarified in the ladder and bilayer Hubbard models and one- and two-dimensional Kondo lattice models using effective theory for weak inter-unit-cell hopping and numerical calculations. The results indicate that the temperature-driven change in the band structure reflecting spin excitation, including the change in the number of bands, can be observed in various strongly correlated insulators even with a spin gap, provided that the temperature increases up to about spin-excitation energies. The controlled analyses developed in this study significantly contribute to the fundamental understanding of the band structure of strongly correlated insulators at nonzero temperature. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Temperature and pressure dependencies of Sm valence in SmB[formula omitted] Kondo insulator probed by x-ray absorption spectroscopy

Pressure and temperature induced valence changes in the Kondo insulator SmB6 have been investigated using x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) along several isobaric cooling runs and one isothermal compression. The average valence of Sm at various pressure and temperature conditions is extracted from high quality XAS data by peak fitting procedures. The temperature dependence of the Sm valence at ambient pressure shows changes of slope near the known characteristic temperatures of gap formation (120 K) and the in-gap state (50 K). At higher pressures the average valence also shows similar temperature dependent trends upon cooling but the slope changes are less pronounced. This behavior is discussed in relation to the possible existence of an underlying first order valence transition and its critical end point. At constant temperature (T=20 K), the Sm valence increases rapidly with pressure; however, it remains far below the expected integer value (3+) near the onset of the magnetic ordering and gap closure. In addition, the local structure of SmB6 at ambient conditions has been analyzed using extended x-ray absorption fine structure.

Ce3Bi4Ni3 – A large hybridization-gap variant of Ce3Bi4Pt3

The family of cubic noncentrosymmetric 3-4-3 compounds has become a fertile ground for the discovery of novel correlated metallic and insulating phases. Here, we report the synthesis of a new heavy fermion compound, Ce3Bi4Ni3. It is an isoelectronic analog of the prototypical Kondo insulator Ce3Bi4Pt3 and of the recently discovered Weyl-Kondo semimetal Ce3Bi4Pd3. In contrast to the volume-preserving Pt-Pd substitution, structural and chemical analyses reveal a positive chemical pressure effect in Ce3Bi4Ni3 relative to its heavier counterparts. Based on the results of electrical resistivity, Hall effect, magnetic susceptibility, and specific heat measurements, we identify an energy gap of 65–70 meV, about eight times larger than that in Ce3Bi4Pt3 and about 45 times larger than that of the Kondo-insulating background hosting the Weyl nodes in Ce3Bi4Pd3. We show that this gap as well as other physical properties do not evolve monotonically with increasing atomic number, i.e., in the sequence Ce3Bi4Ni3−Ce3Bi4Pd3−Ce3Bi4Pt3, but instead with increasing partial electronic density of states of the d orbitals at the Fermi energy. This work opens the possibility to investigate the conditions under which topological states develop in this series of strongly correlated 3-4-3 materials. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Matrix product study of spin fractionalization in the one-dimensional Kondo insulator

The Kondo lattice is one of the classic examples of strongly correlated electronic systems. We conduct a controlled study of the Kondo lattice in one dimension, highlighting the role of excitations created by the composite fermion operator. Using time-dependent matrix product state methods, we compute various correlation functions and contrast them with both large-N mean-field theory and the strong-coupling expansion. We show that the composite fermion operator creates long-lived, charge-e and spin-1/2 excitations, which cover the low-lying single-particle excitation spectrum of the system. Furthermore, spin excitations can be thought to be composed of such fractionalized quasiparticles with a residual interaction which tend to disappear at weak Kondo coupling. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Evolution of surface conductivity in SmB6 under nonmagnetic (Yb2+) and magnetic (Eu2+) doping

Among of rare-earth (RE) hexaborides only two compounds SmB6 and YbB6 are discussed in literature to be members of a new class of 3D topological insulators. However, their ground states originate due to different physical mechanisms, including Kondo 4f-5d hybridization and 5d-2p band inversion, respectively. Here we report a comparative study of magnetotransport (resistivity and transverse magnetoresistance) measured on high quality single crystals of YbxSm1-xB6 and EuxSm1-xB6 solid solutions (x ≤ 0.05) at temperatures 1.7 − 300 K in magnetic fields up to 82 kOe. The choice of dopant was determined by the fact that the presence of magnetic/nonmagnetic (Eu2+/Yb2+) impurity in parent SmB6 matrix should lift/not lift the topological protection of surface states. Based on the two-gap paradigm the x-evolution of electron spectra in YbxSm1-xB6 and EuxSm1-xB6 was studied. Our data show that both the 4f lattice coherence (Eg) and the intrinsic gap (Ea) related to many-body states survive under RE doping at least for x ≈ 0.02 − 0.024. We also suggest that the point x(Eu) = 0.05 can be treated as an upper limit of the small gap closing in EuxSm1-xB6 materials. In YbxSm1-xB6 family a negative linear transverse magnetoresistance (TMR) was detected for the first time in the regime of surface conductivity (T < T∗ ≈ 5 K). The TMR anomaly at T∗ caused possibly by the topological protection of surface states in SmB6 is found to survive in Eu-doped compounds but disappears almost completely for Yb-doped compositions in the same fixed magnetic fields. This paradoxical observation is not consistent with general predictions of the topological Kondo insulator (TKI) model.

A microscopic Kondo lattice model for the heavy fermion antiferromagnet CeIn3

Electrons at the border of localization generate exotic states of matter across all classes of strongly correlated electron materials and many other quantum materials with emergent functionality. Heavy electron metals are a model example, in which magnetic interactions arise from the opposing limits of localized and itinerant electrons. This remarkable duality is intimately related to the emergence of a plethora of novel quantum matter states such as unconventional superconductivity, electronic-nematic states, hidden order and most recently topological states of matter such as topological Kondo insulators and Kondo semimetals and putative chiral superconductors. The outstanding challenge is that the archetypal Kondo lattice model that captures the underlying electronic dichotomy is notoriously difficult to solve for real materials. Here we show, using the prototypical strongly-correlated antiferromagnet CeIn3, that a multi-orbital periodic Anderson model embedded with input from ab initio bandstructure calculations can be reduced to a simple Kondo-Heisenberg model, which captures the magnetic interactions quantitatively. We validate this tractable Hamiltonian via high-resolution neutron spectroscopy that reproduces accurately the magnetic soft modes in CeIn3, which are believed to mediate unconventional superconductivity. Our study paves the way for a quantitative understanding of metallic quantum states such as unconventional superconductivity.

Multiple channel transport properties of topological surface states in SmB6 nanoribbons

SmB6, a topological Kondo insulator, possesses topologically protected surface states, in which carrier mobility is supposed to be high but is significantly varied in orders of magnitude dependent upon characterization methods. Herein, we performed magnetoresistance measurements on a Hall-bar device constructed on a highly uniform SmB6 nanoribbon with (001) surface grown by chemical vapor deposition. Unusual non-linear Hall resistance was observed at low temperature and explained with a two-carrier model. The two types of carriers were attributed to two types of Fermi pockets on the Brillouin zone of the SmB6 (001) surface. The Fermi pocket on Γ point provided high hole mobility up to 1.4×103 cm2/V s but low hole density at a temperature of 2.2 K. On the other hand, the Fermi pockets on X points supplied low electron mobility down to 1.8 cm2/V s but high electron density. The identification of the two types of pockets laid the foundation for the understanding of the transport via the topological surface states of the SmB6 (001) surface.

Temperature-driven change in band structure reflecting spin-charge separation of Mott and Kondo insulators

Temperature-driven change in band structure reflecting spin-charge separation of Mott and Kondo insulators

Quantum oscillations in an impurity-band Anderson insulator

We show that for a system of localized electrons in an impurity band, which form an Anderson insulating state at zero temperature, there can appear quantum oscillations of the magnetization, i.e. the Anderson insulator can exhibit the de Haas-van Alphen effect. This is possible when the electronic band from which the localized states are formed has an extremum that traces out a nonzero area in reciprocal space. Our work extends existing theories for clean band insulators of this form to the situation where they host an impurity band. We show that the energies of these impurity levels oscillate with magnetic field, and compute the conditions under which these oscillations can dominate the de Haas-van Alphen effect. We discuss our results in connection with experimental measurements of quantum oscillations in Kondo insulators, and propose other experimental systems where the impurity band contribution can be dominant.

Possible surface magnetism in the topological Kondo insulator candidate FeSi

Possible surface magnetism in the topological Kondo insulator candidate FeSi

The ground state of the Kondo insulator

The Kondo insulator (KI) is the state of an electron liquid in the Kondo lattice at half filling, studied within the mean field approach. We demonstrate, that the {Z}_2-field, which is formed by interaction between electrons and local moments, leads to an insulator state in a lattice with a double cell lattice. In the ground state, electrons and local moments form singlets; in this case, no spin or charge density waves are realized in a lattice with a double cell. The Majorana-type gap spectrum of the quasi-particle excitations is realized in the { Z}_2 -field. The gap in the spectrum decreases with increasing external magnetic field; it closes at a critical value at the insulator-metal phase transition point. In metal phase the lattice remains with a double cell. Thus, the introduction of the { Z}_2 -field allows us to answer the key question what is the ground state of KI.

Thermodynamic and electrical transport properties of CeRhSb[formula omitted]Te[formula omitted] systems: Transition from Kondo insulating to the Griffiths and non-Fermi liquid states

It follows from our analysis of CeRhSb that the formation of Kondo insulator state due to the presence of the collective spin singlet state is strongly reduced by its doping with various dopants when their amount exceeds 8%–10%, regardless of whether they are substitute Ce, Rh or Sb. A wide variety of experimental results (electrical resistivity ρ, magnetic susceptibility χ, specific heat C, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and theoretical investigations have convincingly demonstrated the proposed earlier scaling law χ×ρ=const. in the Kondo insulator regime, which is universal for all known Kondo insulators. We also analyze the properties of the Griffiths phase for CeRhSb when Pd substitutes Rh, or Sb is fractionally replaced by Te or Sn, whereas doping of Ce with La leads to the formation of magnetic cluster structure as a result of the Kondo hole effect. Magnetoresistance of CeRhSb as a function of the field B shows a negative B2 behavior, which is characteristic of the Kondo–lattice systems, it is also documented for various topological materials. Electrical resistivity of CeRhSb, as well as of CeRhSb1−xTex (x≤0.6) and CeRh1−xPdxSb (x≤0.04), follows ρ=ρ0−AT law between 0.4 and ∼2.5 K, which suggests a non-Fermi liquid-like behavior due to presence of the Griffiths phase.

Topological behaviors in Kondo insulators

Since Kondo insulators are simultaneously subject to time-reversal symmetry and spatial antisymmetry, topological interactions exhibit topological Kondo insulating properties. To investigate the topological behaviors, we proposed a topologically interacting Kondo model with the slave-boson mean-field approximation in a square lattice ribbon. Different phases arise in different topological interactions and itinerant electron densities. In particular, the Kondo effect disappears at the edges in the Kondo and topological Kondo insulating phases. In the topological Kondo states, the conducting edge band is non-linear.

Gapless fermionic excitation in the antiferromagnetic state of ytterbium zigzag chain

The emergence of charge-neutral fermionic excitations in magnetic systems is one of the unresolved issues in recent condensed matter physics. This type of excitations has been observed in various systems, such as low-dimensional quantum spin liquids, Kondo insulators, and antiferromagnetic insulators. Here, we report the presence of a pronounced gapless spin excitation in the low-temperature antiferromagnetic state of YbCuS2 semiconductor, where trivalent ytterbium atoms form a zigzag chain structure. We confirm the presence of this gapless excitations by a combination of experimental probes, namely 63/65Cu-nuclear magnetic resonance and nuclear quadrupole resonance, as well as specific heat measurements, revealing a linear low-temperature behavior of both the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T1 and the specific heat. This system provides a platform to investigate the origin of gapless excitations in spin chains and the relationship between emergent fermionic excitations and frustration.

Unraveling the unique response behaviors of ultrathin transition metal dichalcogenides to external excitations

Designing novel transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are highly important for achieving superior performances in advanced optoelectrical devices of broad applications. Although many TMDCs materials have been synthesized and studied, the response behaviors of TMDCs under external excitations still lack in-depth investigations. To address this challenge, we have established a library of TMDCs including 56 types of materials and revealed their response behaviors to the external electric fields and strains as well as the possibility to drive phase transitions under the external excitations. We have explored the thermodynamic stability, band structures, electronic structures, and optical properties of these TMDCs. Under the external electric field, the gradual change of energy results in the conversion from semiconductors to metals, which enables the construction of heterojunctions while the Landau phase transitions are absent. In comparison, the external strain not only lowers the overall symmetry but also induces strong p-π hybridizations to realize unique electronic properties. In particular, Dirac cones are noticed in the 1H-TcTe2 within 45–100 GPa, supporting a novel quasi heavy-fermion topological Kondo insulator induced by the phase transition under the external strains for the first time in TMDCs. This work offers fundamental knowledge to discover novel TMDCs candidates with superior optoelectrical properties.

Kondo interaction in FeTe and its potential role in the magnetic order

Finding d-electron heavy fermion states has been an important topic as the diversity in d-electron materials can lead to many exotic Kondo effect-related phenomena or new states of matter such as correlation-driven topological Kondo insulator. Yet, obtaining direct spectroscopic evidence for a d-electron heavy fermion system has been elusive to date. Here, we report the observation of Kondo lattice behavior in an antiferromagnetic metal, FeTe, via angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, scanning tunneling spectroscopy and transport property measurements. The Kondo lattice behavior is represented by the emergence of a sharp quasiparticle and Fano-type tunneling spectra at low temperatures. The transport property measurements confirm the low-temperature Fermi liquid behavior and reveal successive coherent-incoherent crossover upon increasing temperature. We interpret the Kondo lattice behavior as a result of hybridization between localized Fe 3dxy and itinerant Te 5pz orbitals. Our observations strongly suggest unusual cooperation between Kondo lattice behavior and long-range magnetic order.

Low-energy excitations and transport functions of the one-dimensional Kondo insulator

Using variational matrix product states, we analyze the finite temperature behavior of a half-filled periodic Anderson model in one dimension, a prototypical model of a Kondo insulator. We present an extensive analysis of single-particle Green’s functions, two-particle Green’s functions, and transport functions creating a broad picture of the low-temperature properties. We confirm the existence of energetically low-lying spin excitations in this model and study their energy-momentum dispersion and temperature dependence. We demonstrate that charge-charge correlations at the Fermi energy exhibit a different temperature dependence than spin-spin correlations. While energetically low-lying spin excitations emerge approximately at the Kondo temperature, which exponentially depends on the interaction strength, charge correlations vanish already at high temperatures. Furthermore, we analyze the charge and thermal conductivity at finite temperatures by calculating the time-dependent current-current correlation functions. While both charge and thermal conductivity can be fitted for all interaction strengths by gapped systems with a renormalized band gap, the gap in the system describing the thermal conductivity is generally smaller than the system describing the charge conductivity. Thus, two-particle correlations affect the charge and heat conductivities in a different way resulting in a temperature region where the charge conductivity of this one-dimensional Kondo insulator is already decreasing while the heat conductivity is still increasing.

Extraordinary bulk-insulating behavior in the strongly correlated materials FeSi and FeSb2

4f electron-based topological Kondo insulators have long been researched for their potential to conduct electric current via protected surface states, while simultaneously exhibiting unusually robust insulating behavior in their interiors. To this end, we have investigated the electrical transport of the 3d-based correlated insulators FeSi and FeSb2, which have exhibited enough similarities to their f electron cousins to warrant investigation. By using a double-sided Corbino disk transport geometry, we show unambiguous evidence of surface conductance in both of these Fe-based materials. In addition, by using a four-terminal Corbino inverted resistance technique, we extract the bulk resistivity as a function of temperature. Similar to topological Kondo insulator SmB6, the bulk resistivity of FeSi and FeSb2 is confirmed to exponentially increase by up to 9 orders of magnitude from room temperature to the lowest accessible temperature. This demonstrates that these materials are excellent bulk insulators, providing an ideal platform for studying correlated 2D physics.