Work

Magnetization Process of the Kondo Insulator YbB12 in Ultrahigh Magnetic Fields

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: The magnetization process of the Kondo insulator YbB12 has been unveiled in ultrahigh magnetic fields of up to 120 T at 4.2 K. We have found a novel metamagnetic transition at Bc2 = 102 T in addition to the previously known transition at Bc1 = 55 T. It has also been observed that the magnetization tends to saturate at around 112 T. Within the rigid band model, the two-energy-gap structure in the density of states (DOS) explains the successive two-step metamagnetism as a result of the Zeeman effect of the DOS. The metamagnetic transition at Bc1 occurs along with an insulator–metal transition and the field-induced phase is expected to be a heavy fermion metallic state. The Kondo effect can weaken at the second transition of Bc2, as theoretically found in the successive two-metamagnetic-transition process in the Kondo semimetal CeNiSn.

Source: Journal of the Physical Society of Japan

DOI: 10.7566/jpsj.86.054710

Authors: Taku T. Terashima, Akihiko Ikeda, Yasuhiro H. Matsuda, Akihiro Kondo, Koichi Kindo, Fumitoshi Iga

Institutions: The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Ibaraki University

Language: English

Topic: Rare-earth and actinide compounds

Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Award: Ultra high pressure synthesis of novel rare-earth borides with cage structure and their physical properties under extremal conditions