An observation of electron phase transition in SmB{sub 6} at low temperatures

Journal Article · Fri Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssc.2006.01.030· OSTI ID:20905451

Glushkov, V V ^[1]; Demishev, S V ^[2]; Ignatov, M I ^[2]; Paderno, Yu B ^[3]; Shitsevalova, N Yu ^[3]; Kuznetsov, A V ^[4]; Churkin, O A ^[4]; Sluchanko, D N ^[2]; Sluchanko, N E ^[2]

---

1. A.M. Prokhorov General Physics Institute of RAS, 38, Vavilov str., Moscow 119991 (Russian Federation) and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 9, Institutskii per., Dolgoprudny, Moscow region 141700 (Russian Federation)
2. A.M. Prokhorov General Physics Institute of RAS, 38, Vavilov str., Moscow 119991 (Russian Federation)
3. Institute for Problems of Materials Science, UA-252680, Kiev (Ukraine)
4. Moscow Engineering Physics Institute, 31, Kashirskoe Shosse, Moscow 115409 (Russian Federation)

In order to reveal the nature of the ground state of archetypal intermediate-valence compound SmB{sub 6}, a comprehensive study of its transport and magnetic properties was carried out on high-quality single crystals at temperatures of 1.8-300 K in magnetic fields up to 7 T. A drastic enhancement of negative magnetoresistance was observed below 14 K, with the maximum absolute value of {delta}{rho}/{rho}B {sup 2}{approx}2.2x10{sup -3} T{sup -2} at T{approx}5.2 K. This effect seems to be attributable to anomalous magnetic scattering of many-body (exciton-polaronic) complexes induced by fast valence fluctuations on Sm sites. The observed anomalies of magnetotransport, thermoelectric and magnetic characteristics are discussed in terms of electron phase transition to the coherent state of interacting many-body complexes occurring at T *{approx}5 K. - Graphical abstract: Local susceptibility {chi} {sub loc}(T), relaxation time {tau}(T) and Seebeck coefficient S(T) observed in SmB{sub 6} in the vicinity of T *{approx}5 K (solid lines are guides for eye)

• OSTI ID: 20905451
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Vol. 179, Issue 9; Conference: 15. international symposium on boron, borides and related compounds, Hamburg (Germany), 21-26 Aug 2005; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.jssc.2006.01.030; PII: S0022-4596(06)00035-1; Copyright (c) 2006 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0022-4596
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ELECTRONS
EXCITONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MAGNETORESISTANCE
MONOCRYSTALS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
SAMARIUM BORIDES
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0000-0013 K
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0013-0065 K
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0065-0273 K
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0273-0400 K