Comment on "Correlation between Bulk Thermodynamic Measurements and the Low-Temperature-Resistance Plateau in SmB6"

Abstract

Low-temperature-resistivity plateau observed in $\mathrm{Sm}{\mathrm{B}}_6$ single crystal,which is due to surface, not bulk, conduction has been confirmed from electrical transport measurements. Recently, the correlation between bulk thermodynamic measurements and the low-temperature-resistance plateau in $\mathrm{Sm}{\mathrm{B}}_6$ have been investigated and a change in Sm valence at the surface has been obtained from x-ray absorption spectroscopy and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. Here we show that the statement of the report are not supported by the results from x-ray absorption spectroscopy and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism.

2 pages, 1 figure, comments