Magnetic field-tuned Fermi liquid in a Kondo insulator

Journal Article · 01 December 2019 · Nature Communications

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-13421-w · OSTI ID:1619599

Kushwaha, Satya K. ; Chan, Mun K. ; Park, Joonbum; Thomas, S. M. ; Bauer, Eric D. ; Thompson, J. D.; Ronning, F.; Rosa, Priscila F. S.; Harrison, Neil

Abstract Kondo insulators are expected to transform into metals under a sufficiently strong magnetic field. The closure of the insulating gap stems from the coupling of a magnetic field to the electron spin, yet the required strength of the magnetic field–typically of order 100 T–means that very little is known about this insulator-metal transition. Here we show that Ce $$$${}_{3}$$$$ ${}_3$ Bi $$$${}_{4}$$$$ ${}_4$ Pd $$$${}_{3}$$$$ ${}_3$ , owing to its fortuitously small gap, provides an ideal Kondo insulator for this investigation. A metallic Fermi liquid state is established above a critical magnetic field of only $$$${B}_{{\rm{c}}}\approx$$$$ $B_c\approx$ 11 T. A peak in the strength of electronic correlations near $$$${B}_{{\rm{c}}}$$$$ $B_c$ , which is evident in transport and susceptibility measurements, suggests that Ce $$$${}_{3}$$$$ ${}_3$ Bi $$$${}_{4}$$$$ ${}_4$ Pd $$$${}_{3}$$$$ ${}_3$ may exhibit quantum criticality analogous to that reported in Kondo insulators under pressure. Metamagnetism and the breakdown of the Kondo coupling are also discussed.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF); State of Florida; USDOE; USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division
• Grant/Contract Number: 89233218CNA000001
• OSTI ID: 1619599
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-19-25216; LA-UR-19-25217; 5487; PII: 13421
• Journal Information: Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 10; ISSN 2041-1723
• Publisher: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English