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THz Spectroscopy of Mixed-Valence YbAl3 Thin Films

ORAL

Abstract

Due to interaction of local moment physics and mixed-valence behavior in Yb compounds, Yb heavy fermion compounds have not demonstrated the same range of phenomena seen in other f-orbital materials. Up to this point it has been difficult to measure the low energy electrodynamic response. However, high quality films of YbAl3 have been successfully grown and demonstrate significant changes in the electronic structure of the material mediated by the fluctuating valence. We have investigated the electrodynamic response of the optical conductivit and we discuss the results in the context of prevailing theories. From extended Drude analysis, we identify that YbAl3 scattering rate and effective mass display temperature dependence suggestive of a slow crossover.

Presenters

  • David Barbalas

    Johns Hopkins University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University

Authors

  • David Barbalas

    Johns Hopkins University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University

  • Shouvik Chatterjee

    UCSB

  • Kyle Shen

    Cornell University, Physics Department, Cornell University

  • Darrell Schlom

    Cornell University, Cornell university, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University

  • Peter Armitage

    Johns Hopkins University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore 21218, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University