The reverse quantum limit and its implications for unconventional quantum oscillations in YbB12

Christopher A Mizzi; Satya K Kushwaha; Priscila F S Rosa; W Adam Phelan; David C Arellano; Lucas A Pressley; Tyrel M McQueen; Mun K Chan; Neil Harrison

doi:10.1038/s41467-024-45801-2

The reverse quantum limit and its implications for unconventional quantum oscillations in YbB₁₂

Nat Commun. 2024 Feb 21;15(1):1607. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-45801-2.

Authors

Christopher A Mizzi¹, Satya K Kushwaha^{1

2

3

4}, Priscila F S Rosa⁵, W Adam Phelan^{3

4

6}, David C Arellano⁶, Lucas A Pressley^{3

4

7}, Tyrel M McQueen^{2

3

7}, Mun K Chan¹, Neil Harrison⁸

Affiliations

¹ National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA.
² Institute for Quantum Matter, William H. Miller III Department of Physics and Astronomy, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
³ Department of Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
⁴ Platform for the Accelerated Realization, Analysis and Discovery of Interface Materials (PARADIM), Department of Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
⁵ MPA-Q, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA.
⁶ MST-16, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA.
⁷ Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
⁸ National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA. nharrison@lanl.gov.

Abstract

The quantum limit in a Fermi liquid, realized when a single Landau level is occupied in strong magnetic fields, gives rise to unconventional states, including the fractional quantum Hall effect and excitonic insulators. Stronger interactions in metals with nearly localized f-electron degrees of freedom increase the likelihood of these unconventional states. However, access to the quantum limit is typically impeded by the tendency of f-electrons to polarize in a strong magnetic field, consequently weakening the interactions. In this study, we propose that the quantum limit in such systems must be approached in reverse, starting from an insulating state at zero magnetic field. In this scenario, Landau levels fill in the reverse order compared to regular metals and are closely linked to a field-induced insulator-to-metal transition. We identify YbB₁₂ as a prime candidate for observing this effect and propose the presence of an excitonic insulator state near this transition.

Abstract

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