Unconventional Fermi surface in an insulating state
Abstract
When a metal is subjected to a strong magnetic field, its electrons start rearranging into new energy levels, causing its electronic properties to oscillate as a function of the field. Unexpectedly, Tan et al. observed this phenomenon, called quantum oscillations, in the Kondo insulator samarium hexaboride (SmB 6 ), which does not conduct electricity. They measured the magnetic torque and detected quantum oscillations originating from the bulk of this heavy fermion compound. These oscillations had an unusual temperature dependence, which presents another puzzle to theorists seeking to understand the nature of the insulating state of SmB 6 .
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jul 17, 2015
- Source ID
- 10.1126/science.aaa7974
Entities
People
- Ashok Srivastava
- B. S. Tan
- B. Zeng
- G. G. Lonzarich
- Ganesh Balakrishnan
- J.-h. Park
- L. Balicas
- M. Ciomaga Hatnean
- M. D. Johannes
- M. Hartstein
- M. Kiourlappou
- N. Harrison
- Suchitra E. Sebastian
- T. P. Murphy
- Y.-t. Hsu
- Zhihui Zhu
Organizations
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- European Research Council
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
- Office of Basic Energy Sciences
- Royal Society
- Seventh Framework Programme
- United States Naval Research Laboratory
- University of Cambridge
- University of Warwick