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Imaging the fano lattice to hidden order transition in URu 2 Si 2

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)

Author

A.R. Schmidt
M.H. Hamidian
P. Wahl
F. Meier
A.V. Balatsky
J.D. Garrett
T.J. Williams
G.M. Luke
J.C. Davis

Abstract

Within a Kondo lattice, the strong hybridization between electrons localized in real space (r-space) and those delocalized in momentum-space (k-space) generates exotic electronic states called Ä€̃ heavy fermionsÄ€™. In URu 2 Si 2 these effects begin at temperatures around 55 K but they are suddenly altered by an unidentified electronic phase transition at T o = 17.5 K. Whether this is conventional ordering of the k-space states, or a change in the hybridization of the r-space states at each U atom, is unknown. Here we use spectroscopic imaging scanning tunnelling microscopy (SI-STM) to image the evolution of URu 2 Si 2 electronic structure simultaneously in r-space and k-space. Above T o, the Ä€̃ Fano latticeÄ€™ electronic structure predicted for Kondo screening of a magnetic lattice is revealed. Below T o, a partial energy gap without any associated density-wave signatures emerges from this Fano lattice. Heavy-quasiparticle interference imaging within this gap reveals its cause as the rapid splitting below T o of a light k-space band into two new heavy fermion bands. Thus, the URu 2 Si 2 Ä€̃ hidden orderÄ€ â„¢ state emerges directly from the Fano lattice electronic structure and exhibits characteristics, not of a conventional density wave, but of sudden alterations in both the hybridization at each U atom and the associated heavy fermion states. © 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.

Date Published

Journal

Nature

Volume

465

Issue

7298

Number of Pages

570-576,

URL

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77953216030&doi=10.1038%2fnature09073&partnerID=40&md5=ee6f5deb8758cacbdd7731fc614dc39e

DOI

10.1038/nature09073

Group (Lab)

J.C. Seamus Davis Group

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