Conduction electron spin resonance in AlB sub(2)

• Published in: Journal of physics. Condensed matter 2013-05, Vol.25 (21), p.1-5
• Main Authors: Holanda, L M, Mendonca-Ferreira, L, Ribeiro, R A, Osorio-Guillen, J M, Dalpian, G M, Kuga, K, Nakatsuji, S, Fisk, Z, Urbano, R R, Pagliuso, P G, Rettori, C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asymptotic properties; Condensed matter; Conduction electrons; ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY; Electron paramagnetic resonance; Electron spin resonance; ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE; PROPERTIES; SINGLE CRYSTALS; Spectra; Spin resonance; X-band; YTTRIUM OXIDE
• ISSN: 0953-8984; 1361-648X
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/25/21/216001

This work reports on electron spin resonance experiments in oriented single crystals of the hexagonal AlB sub(2) diboride compound (P6/mmm, D16h structure) which display conduction electron spin resonance. The X-band electron spin resonance spectra showed a metallic Dysonian resonance with g-value and intensity independent of temperature. The thermal broadening of the anisotropic electron spin resonance linewidth [Delta]H tracks the T-dependence of the electrical resistivity below T [Asymptotically = to] 100 K. These results confirm the observation of a conduction electron spin resonance in AlB sub(2) and are discussed in comparison with other boride compounds. Based on our main findings for AlB sub(2) and the calculated electronic structure of similar layered honeycomb-like structures, we conclude that any array of covalent B-B layers potentially results in a conduction electron spin resonance signal. This observation may shed new light on the nature of the non-trivial conduction electron spin resonance-like signals of complex f-electron systems such as beta -YbAlB sub(4).