Divalent EuRh2Si2 as a reference for the Luttinger theorem and antiferromagnetism in trivalent heavy-fermion YbRh2Si2.

Application of the Luttinger theorem to the Kondo lattice YbRh2Si2 suggests that its large 4f-derived Fermi surface (FS) in the paramagnetic (PM) regime should be similar in shape and volume to that of the divalent local-moment antiferromagnet (AFM) EuRh2Si2 in its PM regime. Here we show by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy that paramagnetic EuRh2Si2 has a large FS essentially similar to the one seen in YbRh2Si2 down to 1 K. In EuRh2Si2 the onset of AFM order below 24.5 K induces an extensive fragmentation of the FS due to Brillouin zone folding, intersection and resulting hybridization of the Fermi-surface sheets. Our results on EuRh2Si2 indicate that the formation of the AFM state in YbRh2Si2 is very likely also connected with similar changes in the FS, which have to be taken into account in the controversial analysis and discussion of anomalies observed at the quantum critical point in this system.

Evolution of the Kondo lattice and non-Fermi liquid excitations in a heavy-fermion metal.

Strong electron correlations can give rise to extraordinary properties of metals with renormalized Landau quasiparticles. Near a quantum critical point, these quasiparticles can be destroyed and non-Fermi liquid behavior ensues. YbRh2Si2 is a prototypical correlated metal exhibiting the formation of quasiparticle and Kondo lattice coherence, as well as quasiparticle destruction at a field-induced quantum critical point. Here we show how, upon lowering the temperature, Kondo lattice coherence develops at zero field and finally gives way to non-Fermi liquid electronic excitations. By measuring the single-particle excitations through scanning tunneling spectroscopy, we find the Kondo lattice peak displays a non-trivial temperature dependence with a strong increase around 3.3 K. At 0.3 K and with applied magnetic field, the width of this peak is minimized in the quantum critical regime. Our results demonstrate that the lattice Kondo correlations have to be sufficiently developed before quantum criticality can set in.

Full-Gap Superconductivity Robust against Disorder in Heavy-Fermion CeCu_{2}Si_{2}.

A key aspect of unconventional pairing by the antiferromagnetic spin-fluctuation mechanism is that the superconducting energy gap must have the opposite sign on different parts of the Fermi surface. Recent observations of non-nodal gap structure in the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCu_{2}Si_{2} were then very surprising, given that this material has long been considered a prototypical example of a superconductor where the Cooper pairing is magnetically mediated. Here we present a study of the effect of controlled point defects, introduced by electron irradiation, on the temperature-dependent magnetic penetration depth λ(T) in CeCu_{2}Si_{2}. We find that the fully gapped state is robust against disorder, demonstrating that low-energy bound states, expected for sign-changing gap structures, are not induced by nonmagnetic impurities. This provides bulk evidence for s_{++}-wave superconductivity without sign reversal.

Strong ferromagnetism at the surface of an antiferromagnet caused by buried magnetic moments.

Carrying a large, pure spin magnetic moment of 7 µB per atom in the half-filled 4f shell, divalent europium is an outstanding element for assembling novel magnetic devices in which a two-dimensional electron gas may be polarized due to exchange interaction with an underlying magnetically-active Eu layer. Here we show that the Si-Rh-Si surface trilayer of the antiferromagnet EuRh2Si2 bears a surface state, which exhibits an unexpected and large spin splitting controllable by temperature. The splitting sets in below ~32.5 K, well above the ordering temperature of the Eu 4f moments (~24.5 K) in the bulk, indicating a larger ordering temperature in the topmost Eu layers. The driving force for the itinerant ferromagnetism at the surface is the aforementioned exchange interaction. Such a splitting may also be induced into states of functional surface layers deposited onto the surface of EuRh2Si2 or similarly ordered magnetic materials with metallic or semiconducting properties.

Interplay of Dirac fermions and heavy quasiparticles in solids.

Many-body interactions in crystalline solids can be conveniently described in terms of quasiparticles with strongly renormalized masses as compared with those of non-interacting particles. Examples of extreme mass renormalization are on the one hand graphene, where the charge carriers obey the linear dispersion relation of massless Dirac fermions, and on the other hand heavy-fermion materials where the effective electron mass approaches the mass of a proton. Here we show that both extremes, Dirac fermions, like they are found in graphene and extremely heavy quasiparticles characteristic for Kondo materials, may not only coexist in a solid but can also undergo strong mutual interactions. Using the example of EuRh2Si2, we explicitly demonstrate that these interactions can take place at the surface and in the bulk. The presence of the linear dispersion is imposed solely by the crystal symmetry, whereas the existence of heavy quasiparticles is caused by the localized nature of the 4f states.

Determining the in-plane orientation of the ground-state orbital of CeCu2Si2.

We have successfully determined the hitherto unknown sign of the B(4)(4) Stevens crystal-field parameter of the tetragonal heavy-fermion compound CeCu(2)Si(2) using vector q-dependent nonresonant inelastic x-ray scattering experiments at the cerium N(4,5) edge. The observed difference between the two different directions, q∥[100] and q∥[110], is due to the anisotropy of the crystal-field ground state in the (001) plane and is observable only because of the utilization of higher than dipole transitions possible in nonresonant inelastic x-ray scattering. This approach allows us to go beyond the specific limitations of dc magnetic susceptibility, inelastic neutron scattering, and soft x-ray spectroscopy, and provides us with a reliable information about the orbital state of the 4f electrons relevant for the quantitative modeling of the quasiparticles and their interactions in heavy-fermion systems.

Structural investigations on YbRh2Si2: from the atomic to the macroscopic length scale.

YbRh2Si2 has advanced to a prototype material for investigating physics related to the Kondo effect. An optimization of the synthesis resulted in single crystals of extraordinary crystalline quality. At the atomic scale, we utilize scanning tunneling microscopy to study the topography of cleaved single crystals. A structural and chemical analysis was conducted by highly accurate x-ray diffraction and wavelength dispersive x-ray spectroscopy measurements. The latter indicate a homogeneity range of the YbRh2Si2 phase between approximately 40.0­40.2 at.% Rh. For our high-quality samples the number of defects found on the atomic scale (of the order of 0.3% of the visible lattice sites) is in quantitative agreement with a very small off-stoichiometry within this homogeneity range. Comparing our results for these samples allows an assignment of the structural defects observed at the cleaved surfaces to Rh occupying Si sites and, even less numerous Si in Rh sites. Such an analysis is hampered for samples of lesser quality, but there seem to be numerous empty Si-sites. Based on these observations the results of scanning tunneling spectroscopy can be analyzed in further detail and provide insight into the Kondo physics.

Optical study of archetypical valence-fluctuating Eu systems.

We have investigated the optical conductivity of the prominent valence-fluctuating compounds EuIr(2)Si(2) and EuNi(2)P(2) in the infrared energy range to get new insights into the electronic properties of valence-fluctuating systems. For both compounds, we observe upon cooling the formation of a renormalized Drude response, a partial suppression of the optical conductivity below 100 meV, and the appearance of a midinfrared peak at 0.15 eV for EuIr(2)Si(2) and 0.13 eV for EuNi(2)P(2). Most remarkably, our results show a strong similarity with the optical spectra reported for many Ce- or Yb-based heavy-fermion metals and intermediate valence systems, although the phase diagrams and the temperature dependence of the valence differ strongly between Eu systems and Ce- or Yb-based systems. This suggests that the hybridization between 4f and conduction electrons, which is responsible for the properties of Ce and Yb systems, plays an important role in valence-fluctuating Eu systems.

Determination of gap symmetry from angle-dependent H(c2) measurements on CeCu2Si2.

The tetragonal heavy-fermion compound CeCu2Si2 exhibits a superconducting ground state (S type, T(c) = 0.67 K) close to a magnetic instability. Here, we present angle-resolved resistivity measurements of the upper critical field H(c2). In-plane rotation of S-type CeCu2Si2 single crystals reveals a fourfold oscillation of H(c2). An extended weak-coupling BCS model for a d-wave symmetry including strong Pauli-limiting effects confirms the aforementioned angular dependence and points towards d(xy) symmetry of the order parameter.