Electronic and magnetic properties of the topological semimetal SmMg2Bi2

Dirac semimetals show nontrivial physical properties and can host exotic quantum states like Weyl semimetals and topological insulators under suitable external conditions. Here, by combining angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements (ARPES) and first-principle calculations, we demonstrate that the Zintl-phase compound ${\mathrm{SmMg}}₂{\mathrm{Bi}}₂$ is in close proximity to a topological Dirac semimetallic state. ARPES results show a Dirac-like band crossing at the zone center near the Fermi level (${E}_{\mathrm{F}}$), which is further confirmed by first-principle calculations. Theoretical studies also reveal that ${\mathrm{SmMg}}₂{\mathrm{Bi}}₂$ belongs to a ${Z}₂$ topological class and hosts spin-polarized states around the ${E}_{\mathrm{F}}$. Zintl's theory predicts that the valence state of Sm in this material should be ${\mathrm{Sm}}²⁺$, however, we detect many Sm-$4f$ multiplet states (flat-bands) whose energy positions and relative intensities suggest the presence of both dominant ${\mathrm{Sm}}²⁺$ and minor ${\mathrm{Sm}}³⁺$. The small concentration (2.5%) of ${\mathrm{Sm}}³⁺$ in the bulk of a crystal is inferred to arise from Sm vacancies in the crystal. It is also evident that these flat bands and other dispersive states are strongly hybridized when they cross each other. Due to the presence of ${\mathrm{Sm}}³⁺$ ions, the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility $\ensuremath{\chi}(T)$ shows a Curie-Weiss-like contribution in the low-temperature region, in addition to the Van Vleck-like behavior expected for the ${\mathrm{Sm}}²⁺$ ions. The present study will help to better understand the electronic structure, magnetism, and transport properties of related materials.