Optical investigation of the metal-insulator transition in $FeSb_2$

Details Optical investigation of the metal-insulator transition in $FeSb_2$ Optical investigation of the metal-insulator transition in $FeSb_2$

2005-10-06

arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0510131v1

Eur. Phys. J. B54, 175 (2006)

Physics

Condensed Matter

Strongly Correlated Electrons

17 pages, 5 figures

Scientific paper

10.1140/epjb/e2006-00433-1

We present a comprehensive optical study of the narrow gap $FeSb_2$ semiconductor. From the optical reflectivity, measured from the far infrared up to the ultraviolet spectral range, we extract the complete absorption spectrum, represented by the real part $\sigma_1(\omega)$ of the complex optical conductivity. With decreasing temperature below 80 K, we find a progressive depletion of $\sigma_1(\omega)$ below $E_g\sim 280$ cm$^{-1}$, the semiconducting optical gap. The suppressed (Drude) spectral weight within the gap is transferred at energies $\omega>E_g$ and also partially piles up over a continuum of excitations extending in the spectral range between zero and $E_g$. Moreover, the interaction of one phonon mode with this continuum leads to an asymmetric phonon shape. Even though several analogies between $FeSb_2$ and $FeSi$ were claimed and a Kondo-insulator scenario was also invoked for both systems, our data on $FeSb_2$ differ in several aspects from those of $FeSi$. The relevance of our findings with respect to the Kondo insulator description will be addressed.

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