Robust local and nonlocal transport in the topological Kondo insulator SmB6 in the presence of a high magnetic field

Biswas, Sangram and Nagarajan, Ramya and Sarkar, Suman and Amin, Kazi Rafsanjani and Hatnean, Ciomaga M and Tewari, S and Balakrishnan, G and Bid, Aveek (2015) Robust local and nonlocal transport in the topological Kondo insulator SmB6 in the presence of a high magnetic field. In: PHYSICAL REVIEW B, 92 (8).

PDF Phy_Rev-B_92_8_ 085103_2015.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (902kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

SmB6 has been predicted to be a Kondo topological insulator with topologically protected conducting surface states. We have studied quantitatively the electrical transport through surface states in high-quality single crystals of SmB6. We observe a large nonlocal surface signal at temperatures lower than the bulk Kondo gap scale. Measurements and finite-element simulations allow us to distinguish unambiguously between the contributions from different transport channels. In contrast to general expectations, the electrical transport properties of the surface channels were found to be insensitive to high magnetic fields. We propose possible scenarios that might explain this unexpected finding. Local and nonlocal magnetoresistance measurements allowed us to identify possible signatures of helical spin states and strong interband scattering at the surface.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	PHYSICAL REVIEW B
Publisher:	AMER PHYSICAL SOC
Additional Information:	Copy right for this article belongs to the AMER PHYSICAL SOC, ONE PHYSICS ELLIPSE, COLLEGE PK, MD 20740-3844 USA
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Physics
Date Deposited:	03 Sep 2015 05:52
Last Modified:	03 Sep 2015 05:52
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/52286

Actions (login required)

View Item