The spin dynamics of mixed-valence YbB12 has been studied by inelastic
neutron scattering on a high-quality single crystal. In the Kondo-insulating
regime realized at low temperature, the spectra exhibit a spin-gap structure
with two sharp, dispersive, in-gap excitations at E = 14.5 and approximately 20
meV. The lower mode is shown to be associated with short-range correlations
near the antiferromagnetic wave vector q0 = (1/2, 1/2, 1/2). Its properties are
in overall agreement with those expected for a "spin exciton'' branch in an
indirect hybridization gap semiconductor.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures ; submitted to Physical Review Letter
