First evidence for a Sm$^{3+}$-type contribution to the magnetic form factor in the quasielastic spectral response of intermediate valence SmB$_{6}$

TL;DR

This study provides the first experimental evidence of a Sm$^{3+}$-type contribution to the magnetic form factor in the quasielastic spectral response of intermediate valence SmB$_{6}$, revealing new insights into its magnetic behavior.

Contribution

It demonstrates the momentum transfer dependence of the magnetic form factor in SmB$_{6}$ and links it to the mixing of 4f$^{5}$ and 4f$^{6}$ states, a novel insight into its electronic structure.

Findings

Magnetic form factor differs from previous inelastic signals

Evidence of Sm$^{3+}$-type contribution in quasielastic response

Curie-type susceptibility contributions from valence mixing

Abstract

The momentum transfer dependence of the magnetic form factor associated with the quasielastic spectral component in the dynamic magnetic response of intermediate valence SmB$_{6}$ has been measured using inelastic neutron scattering on a double-isotope ($^{154}$Sm, $^{11}$B) single crystal. The experimental dependence differs qualitatively from those obtained earlier for the inelastic signals, as well as from the field-induced magnetic form factor of SmB$_{6}$ obtained by polarized neutron diffraction. This observation is interpreted by specifically considering the Curie-type contributions to the dynamic susceptibility, which arise from the mixing of 4f$^{5}$ and 4f$^{6}$ J-multiplets into the intermediate valence state wave function.