Yb Valence Change in (Ce,Yb)CoIn5 from spectroscopy and bulk properties

TL;DR

This study investigates the valence states of Yb and Ce in (Ce,Yb)CoIn5 using spectroscopy and bulk measurements, revealing rapid Yb valence changes at low x and Fermi surface modifications, informing superconductivity and Kondo coherence.

Contribution

It provides new insights into Yb valence evolution and Fermi surface changes in (Ce,Yb)CoIn5, linking spectroscopic data with electronic structure and physical properties.

Findings

Yb valence increases rapidly for x<0.2 from 2.3+ toward 3+

Fermi surface areas reduce significantly at x=1 compared to x=0

Results align with simple electron counting expectations

Abstract

The electronic structure of (Ce,Yb)CoIn5 has been studied by a combination of photoemission, x-ray absorption and bulk property measurements. Previous findings of a Ce valence near 3+ for all x and of an Yb valence near 2.3+ for x>0.3 were confirmed. One new result of this study is that the Yb valence for x<0.2 increases rapidly with decreasing x from 2.3+ toward 3+, which correlates well with de Haas van Alphen results showing a change of Fermi surface around x=0.2. Another new result is the direct observation by angle resolved photoemission Fermi surface maps of about 50% cross sectional area reductions of the \alpha- and \beta-sheets for x=1 compared to x=0, and a smaller, essentially proportionate, size change of the \alpha-sheet for x=0.2. These changes are found to be in good general agreement with expectations from simple electron counting. The implications of these results for the unusual robustness of superconductivity and Kondo coherence with increasing x in this alloy system are discussed.