Revealing 'plasmaron' feature in DySb by optical spectroscopy study

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Magnetism

Background:

• Dysprosium antimonide (DySb) is a rare earth intermetallic compound.
• Understanding its electronic and magnetic properties is crucial for exploring novel quantum phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the magnetic, electronic, and optical properties of single crystal DySb.
• To elucidate the origin of its large magnetoresistance and optical features.

Main Methods:

• Single crystal growth of DySb.
• Magnetic susceptibility measurements.
• Resistivity measurements.
• Optical spectroscopy (UV-Vis-NIR).

Main Results:

• DySb exhibits extremely large magnetoresistance (XMR).
• A paramagnetic (PM) to antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase transition occurs near 10 K.
• Optical measurements reveal a 'screened' plasma edge suggesting low carrier density.
• An anomalous temperature-dependent mid-infrared absorption feature, attributed to a 'plasmaron' (coupled electron-plasmon) excitation, is observed.

Conclusions:

• Single crystal DySb displays significant magnetoresistance and a clear magnetic transition.
• The observed optical features, including the 'screened' plasma edge and mid-infrared absorption, are linked to low carrier density and plasmaron excitations.
• These findings offer insights into the complex interplay between electronic, magnetic, and optical properties in DySb.