Preparation, characterization and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy study of a correlated semimetal, SmBi

We report high quality single crystalline growth of SmBi using flux method. The compound crystallizes in the simple rock salt structure with space group Fm3m. The cubic structure of the single crystal was confirmed by Laue diffraction pattern. The magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal sharp antiferromagnetic order with Neel temperature of 9 K. The core level photoemission spectroscopy study of Sm 3d has been performed using monochromatic Al Kalpha source. We observe multiple features in the experimental spectra due to fonal state effect - a signature of hybridization between Sm 4f - Bi 6p states. Intense satellite features are also observed presumably due to mixed valency arising from Kondo coupling. No signature of surface-bulk difference is observed in the Sm 3d core level spectra.