We investigate the topological superconductor candidate using high-resolution valence-band resonant inelastic x-ray scattering at the U edges. We observe atomiclike low-energy excitations that support the correlated nature of this unconventional superconductor. These excitations originate from the U configuration, which is unexpected since the short Te2-Te2 distances exclude Te2 being . By utilizing the photoionization cross-section dependence of the photoemission spectra in combination with band structure calculations, we infer that the stabilization of the U configuration is due to the U bonding states in the U dimers acting as a charge reservoir. Our results emphasize that the description of the physical properties should commence with a ansatz.
@article{osti_2474004,
author = {Christovam, Denise S. and Sundermann, Martin and Marino, Andrea and Takegami, Daisuke and Falke, Johannes and Dolmantas, Paulius and Harder, Manuel and Gretarsson, Hlynur and Keimer, Bernhard and Gloskovskii, Andrei and others},
title = {Stabilization of U <math> <mrow> <mn>5</mn> <msup> <mi>f</mi> <mn>2</mn> </msup> </mrow> </math> configuration in <math> <msub> <mi>UTe</mi> <mn>2</mn> </msub> </math> through U <math> <mrow> <mn>6</mn> <mi>d</mi> </mrow> </math> dimers in the presence of Te2 chains},
annote = { We investigate the topological superconductor candidate UTe 2 using high-resolution valence-band resonant inelastic x-ray scattering at the U M 4 , 5 edges. We observe atomiclike low-energy excitations that support the correlated nature of this unconventional superconductor. These excitations originate from the U 5 f 2 configuration, which is unexpected since the short Te2-Te2 distances exclude Te2 being 2 − . By utilizing the photoionization cross-section dependence of the photoemission spectra in combination with band structure calculations, we infer that the stabilization of the U 5 f 2 configuration is due to the U 6 d bonding states in the U dimers acting as a charge reservoir. Our results emphasize that the description of the physical properties should commence with a 5 f 2 ansatz. Published by the American Physical Society 2024 },
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevResearch.6.033299},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/2474004},
journal = {Physical Review Research},
issn = {ISSN 2643-1564},
number = {3},
volume = {6},
place = {United States},
publisher = {American Physical Society},
year = {2024},
month = {09}}
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 13TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SYNCHROTRON RADIATION INSTRUMENTATION – SRI2018, AIP Conference Proceedingshttps://doi.org/10.1063/1.5084611