Is SmB_6 a topological Kondo insulator? · revision history

Revision 2

Accepted · core change · record

Changes against revision 1:

Title · changed
Revision 1: Is SmB6 a topological Kondo insulator
Revision 2: Is $\mathrm{SmB_6}$ a topological Kondo insulator?
Plain · changed
Revision 1: SmB6 conducts on its surface while its interior insulates at low temperature; theory predicts these surface states are topological, meaning protected by symmetry and band structure, but this is not settled.
Revision 2: $\mathrm{SmB_6}$ conducts on its surface while its interior insulates at low temperature; theory predicts these surface states are topological, meaning protected by symmetry and band structure, but this is not settled.
Precise · changed · core
Revision 1: Determine whether the conducting surfaces of SmB6 are protected by the time-reversal Z2 invariant from $f-d$ band inversion at the $X$ points, with an odd number of Dirac cones, or are trivial polar-surface states. An answer is spin-resolved ARPES and transport (weak antilocalization, thickness independence) on several crystal faces, consistent with a Z2 index computed from the bulk bands.
Revision 2: Determine whether the conducting surfaces of $\mathrm{SmB_6}$ are protected by the time-reversal Z2 invariant from $f-d$ band inversion at the $X$ points, with an odd number of Dirac cones, or are trivial polar-surface states. An answer is spin-resolved ARPES and transport (weak antilocalization, thickness independence) on several crystal faces, consistent with a Z2 index computed from the bulk bands.
Settled by
Spin-resolved ARPES locating Dirac points on at least two surface orientations plus transport showing surface conduction independent of surface termination.
Kind
well-posed
Answer type
yes-no
References
(empty)
Literature status
partially-resolved
Status note
Surface conduction below about 4 K is established by transport; ARPES evidence on spin texture and Dirac points remains disputed.
Posed since
2010

Decisions