Two-dimensional Fermi surfaces in Kondo insulator SmB₆

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Quantum Materials

Background:

• Samarium hexaboride (SmB6) is a Kondo insulator exhibiting strong electron correlation and band hybridization.
• Low-temperature resistance divergence in SmB6 suggests potential surface conductance, ending around 3 Kelvin.

Purpose of the Study:

• To resolve the Fermi surface topology of SmB6 using torque magnetometry.
• To investigate the nature of conducting electronic states in SmB6.

Main Methods:

• Torque magnetometry was employed to probe the electronic structure of SmB6.
• Analysis of oscillation patterns under varying magnetic field tilt angles.

Main Results:

• Two distinct Fermi surfaces were identified on the (100) surface plane.
• One Fermi surface was observed on the (101) surface plane.
• Measured Fermi surface cross-sections followed an inverse cosine function with magnetic field tilt, indicating 2D electronic states.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms the presence of multiple Fermi surfaces in SmB6.
• The results demonstrate the two-dimensional character of the conducting electronic states on the material's surfaces.