Large high quality crystals of the Topological Kondo Insulator, SmB$_{6}$

ORAL

Abstract

SmB$_{6}$ has been predicted to be a Topological Kondo Insulator, the first strongly correlated heavy fermion material to exhibit topological surface states. High quality crystals are necessary to investigate the topological properties of this material. Single crystal growth of the rare earth hexaboride, SmB$_{6}$, has been carried out by the floating zone technique using a high power xenon arc lamp image furnace. Large, high quality single-crystals are obtained by this technique. The crystals produced by the floating zone technique are free of contamination from flux materials and have been characterised by resistivity and magnetisation measurements. These crystals are ideally suited for the investigation of both the surface and bulk properties of SmB$_{6}$.

Authors

  • Geetha Balakrishnan

    Physics Department, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, U.K., The University of Warwick, Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK

  • Monica Ciomaga Hatnean

    Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK

  • D.McK. Paul

    Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK

  • M.R. Lees

    Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK