Excitons in topological Kondo insulators: Theory of thermodynamic and transport anomalies in SmB6
File(s)1608.02453v1.pdf (1.16 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Knolle, Johannes
Cooper, Nigel R
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Kondo insulating materials lie outside the usual dichotomy of weakly versus correlated—band versus Mott—insulators. They are metallic at high temperatures but resemble band insulators at low temperatures because of the opening of an interaction-induced band gap. The first discovered Kondo insulator (KI)
SmB
6
has been predicted to form a topological KI (TKI). However, since its discovery thermodynamic and transport anomalies have been observed that have defied a theoretical explanation. Enigmatic signatures of collective modes inside the charge gap are seen in specific heat, thermal transport, and quantum oscillation experiments in strong magnetic fields. Here, we show that TKIs are susceptible to the formation of excitons and magnetoexcitons. These charge neutral composite particles can account for long-standing anomalies in
SmB
6
.
SmB
6
has been predicted to form a topological KI (TKI). However, since its discovery thermodynamic and transport anomalies have been observed that have defied a theoretical explanation. Enigmatic signatures of collective modes inside the charge gap are seen in specific heat, thermal transport, and quantum oscillation experiments in strong magnetic fields. Here, we show that TKIs are susceptible to the formation of excitons and magnetoexcitons. These charge neutral composite particles can account for long-standing anomalies in
SmB
6
.
Date Issued
2017-03-03
Date Acceptance
2016-11-03
Citation
Physical Review Letters, 2017, 118 (9)
ISSN
0031-9007
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review Letters
Volume
118
Issue
9
Copyright Statement
Excitons in topological Kondo insulators: Theory of thermodynamic and transport anomalies in
SmB
6
Johannes Knolle and Nigel R. Cooper
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 096604 – Published 3 March 2017. © 2017 American Physical Society
SmB
6
Johannes Knolle and Nigel R. Cooper
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 096604 – Published 3 March 2017. © 2017 American Physical Society
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Physics
2-DIMENSIONAL ELECTRON-GAS
VALENT SMB6
EXCITATIONS
SURFACE
SEMICONDUCTOR
SCATTERING
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
096604