Pa. Alekseev et al., MAGNETIC EXCITATION SPECTRUM OF MIXED-VALENCE SMB6 STUDIED BY NEUTRON-SCATTERING ON A SINGLE-CRYSTAL, Journal of physics. Condensed matter, 7(2), 1995, pp. 289-305
The paramagnetic response of mixed-valence samarium hexaboride has bee
n studied by inelastic neutron scattering using a low-absorption doubl
e-isotope single crystal of (SmB6)-Sm-154-B-11. Measurements were perf
ormed for energy transfers 0 less than or equal to h omega less than o
r equal to 50 meV at temperatures ranging from 2 to 100 K. Two main co
ntributions were observed in the spectra: a broad intermultiplet trans
ition of single-ion type at h omega similar or equal to 36 meV, and a
narrow low-energy excitation centred at h omega similar or equal to 14
meV, which is strongly anisotropic and temperature dependent and exhi
bits a weak but visible dispersion. The latter excitation appears to b
e an inherent feature of the mixed-valence state due to f-electron hyb
ridization effects, which denotes the formation of a local bound state
around the Sm sites.