  We studied the electronic structure of SmB6 employing density functional
theory (DFT) using different exchange potentials, spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and
electron correlation (U = correlation strength). All the calculations carried
out in this study converge to metallic ground state indicating bulk metallicity
in SmB6, which is in line with the low temperature anomalies observed in this
system. We show that while spin-orbit coupling and electron correlation is
important to capture the ground state properties, generalized gradient
approximation provides the best description of the Sm 4f multiplets observed in
angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) data. The Fermi surface plots
exhibit electron and hole pockets having dominant Sm 4f character; the
observation of these Fermi surfaces is consistent with the recent quantum
oscillation measurements. In addition to primarily Sm 4f contributions observed
at the Fermi level, we discover significantly large contribution from B 2p
states compared to weak Sm 5d contributions. This suggests important role of B
2p - Sm 4f hybridization in the exotic physics of this system.
