Magnetic mixed valent semimetal EuZnSb${}_2$ with Dirac states in the band structure

Abstract

We report discovery of new antiferromagnetic semimetal EuZnSb${}_2$, obtained and studied in the form of single crystals. Electric resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity indicate antiferromagnetic order of Eu with $T_N$ = 20 K. The effective moment of Eu${}^{2+}$ inferred from the magnetization and specific heat measurement is 3.5 ${\mu }_B$, smaller than the theoretical value of Eu${}^{2+}$ due to presence of both Eu${}^{3+}$ and Eu${}^{2+}$. Magnetic field-dependent resistivity measurements suggest dominant quasi two dimensional Fermi surfaces whereas the first-principle calculations point to the presence of Dirac fermions. Therefore, EuZnSb${}_2$ could represent the first platform to study the interplay of dynamical charge fluctuations, localized magnetic 4$f$ moments and Dirac states with Sb orbital character.

9 pages, 4 figures

References in corpus (10)

• Dirac materials
• Higher-order Topology of Axion Insulator EuIn${}_2$As${}_2$
• Correlated Topological Insulators with Mixed Valence
• Quantum Hall effect in a bulk antiferromagnet EuMnBi${}_2$ with magnetically confined two-dimensional Dirac fermions
• Electron and hole Dirac cone states in-pairs in Ba(FeAs)${}_2$ confirmed by magnetoresistance
• Effect of Eu magnetism on the electronic properties of the candidate Dirac material EuMnBi2
• Nontrivial Berry phase in magnetic BaMnSb2 semimetal
• Interplay of Dirac electrons and magnetism in AMnBi2 (A=Ca, Sr)
• Revealing extremely low energy amplitude modes in the charge-density-wave compound LaAgSb${}_2$
• Unusual mixed valence of Eu in two new materials EuSr2Bi2S4F4 and Eu2SrBi2S4F4: Mössbauer and X-ray photoemission Spectroscopy investigations