Electron Tunneling Spectroscopy of SmB<SUB>6</SUB> Studied by <I>In Situ</I> Nano-Break-Junction Method

Abstract

Tunneling spectra of intermediate-valence semiconductor SmB6 are reported for in-situ break junctions, being able to make nano-scale planar tunnel junctions. The electron tunneling using break junction method is a powerful probe of the intrinsic energy gap. The investigated tunneling conductance dI/dV curves are mostly reproducible and symmetric with respect to the applied voltage. Two kinds of characteristic energy gaps are observed at 2E(d) = 20 mV and 2E(a) = 9 mV, which coincides well with those previously studied by point-contact spectroscopy and the activation energy fitted by our electrical resistivity data. The positions of the gap structures are independent of the zero-bias conductance, implying no additional voltage drop induced by the break junctions. The small anomaly at the activation energy 2E(a) indicates a relatively low density of in-gap states. Furthermore, the results of magnetic properties reveal the ratio of Sm2+:Sm3+ = 3.7:6.3 and the antiferromagnetic nature at high temperature.