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Optical observation of flat-band charge dynamics in kagome metal CsCr6Sb6

Dongwook Kim1,*, Boqin Song2,*, Zhenzhen Xu1, Sangjun Han1, Tianping Ying2, and S. J. Moon1,†

  • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • †Contact author: soonjmoon@hanyang.ac.kr

Phys. Rev. Research 8, 033183 – Published 14 August, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/tw5d-d9fh

Abstract

Flat-band systems, where electron kinetic energy is quenched over large regions of momentum space, are predicted to host exotic strongly correlated phenomena. Kagome metals have emerged as a prominent platform for exploring intriguing flat-band physics. Yet, their intrinsic charge dynamics have remained obscured because flat bands in most kagome materials either are located far from the Fermi level (EF) or coexist with other dispersive bands near the EF. Here, we report infrared spectroscopy measurements of the kagome metal CsCr6Sb6, which features isolated Cr-derived flat bands near the EF. The optical conductivity spectra σ1(ω) exhibit a striking power-law behavior proportional to ω−α with α ≈ 0.26, significantly deviating from conventional metallic response, where the conductivity falls like ω−2. Above the frustrated magnetic state temperature TF≈72K, the low-energy σ1(ω) displays incoherent charge dynamics without a well-defined Drude response. Below TF, the low-energy σ1(ω) is further suppressed, indicating electron scattering due to the magnetic frustration. Moreover, the spectral weight of σ1(ω) is redistributed with varying temperature over broad energy scales (∼4 eV), reflecting strong correlation effects. These findings demonstrate that CsCr6Sb6 belongs to the correlated bad metallic systems, which have not been witnessed among other kagome metals.

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