Title: Experimental and theoretical study of topology and electronic correlations in PuB4

Journal Article · · Physical Review B
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  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

We synthesize single crystals of PuB4 using an Al-flux technique. Single-crystal diffraction data provide structural parameters for first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. By computing the density of states, the Z2 topological invariant using the Wilson loop method, and the surface electronic structure from slab calculations, we find that PuB4 is a nonmagnetic strong topological insulator with a band gap of 254 meV. Our magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, and resistivity measurements are consistent with this analysis, albeit with a smaller gap of 35 meV. DFT plus dynamical mean-field theory calculations show that electronic correlations reduce the size of the band gap, and provide better agreement with the value determined by resistivity. Furthermore, these results demonstrate that PuB4 is a promising actinide material to investigate the interplay of electronic correlations and nontrivial topology.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
Grant/Contract Number:
89233218CNA000001; AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1524404
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-18-21188
Journal Information:
Physical Review B, Journal Name: Physical Review B Journal Issue: 20 Vol. 97; ISSN 2469-9950; ISSN PRBMDO
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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