Robust Fermi-Surface Morphology of CeRhIn${}_5$ across the Putative Field-Induced Quantum Critical Point

Abstract

We report a comprehensive de Haas--van Alphen (dHvA) study of the heavy-fermion material CeRhIn${}_5$ in magnetic fields up to 70~T. Several dHvA frequencies gradually emerge at high fields as a result of magnetic breakdown. Among them is the thermodynamically important ${\hat{I}}_1^2$ branch, which has not been observed so far. Comparison of our angule-dependent dHvA spectra with those of the non-$4f$ compound LaRhIn${}_5$ and with band-structure calculations evidences that the Ce $4f$ electrons in CeRhIn${}_5$ remain localized over the whole field range. This rules out any significant Fermi-surface reconstruction, either at the suggested nematic phase transition at $B^{\ast }\approx$ 30~T or at the putative quantum critical point at $B_c\simeq$ 50~T. Our results rather demonstrate the robustness of the Fermi surface and the localized nature of the 4$f$ electrons inside and outside of the antiferromagnetic phase.

7 pages, 4 figures + Supplemental Material (5 pages, 10 figures)