Toward a new microscopic framework for Kondo lattice materials

Charge-density wave mediated quasi-one-dimensional Kondo lattice in stripe-phase monolayer 1T-NbSe2

The heavy fermion physics is dictated by subtle competing exchange interactions, posing a challenge to their understanding. One-dimensional (1D) Kondo lattice model has attracted special attention in theory, because of its exact solvability and expected unusual quantum criticality. However, such experimental material systems are extremely rare. Here, we demonstrate the realization of quasi-1D Kondo lattice behavior in a monolayer van der Waals crystal NbSe2, that is driven into a stripe phase via Se-deficient line defects. Spectroscopic imaging scanning tunneling microscopy measurements and first-principles calculations indicate that the stripe-phase NbSe2 undergoes a novel charge-density wave transition, creating a matrix of local magnetic moments. The Kondo lattice behavior is manifested as a Fano resonance at the Fermi energy that prevails the entire film with a high Kondo temperature. Importantly, coherent Kondo screening occurs only in the direction of the stripes. Upon approaching defects, the Fano resonance exhibits prominent spatial 1D oscillations along the stripe direction, reminiscent of Kondo holes in a quasi-1D Kondo lattice. Our findings provide a platform for exploring anisotropic Kondo lattice behavior in the monolayer limit.

Nonlocal Kondo effect and two-fluid picture revealed in an exactly solvable model

Understanding the nature of local-itinerant transition of strongly correlated electrons is one of the central problems in condensed matter physics. Heavy fermion systems describe the f-electron delocalization through Kondo interactions with conduction electrons. Tremendous efforts have been devoted to the so-called Kondo-destruction scenario, which predicts a dramatic local-to-itinerant quantum phase transition of f-electrons at zero temperature. On the other hand, two-fluid behaviors have been observed in many materials, suggesting coexistence of local and itinerant f-electrons over a broad temperature range but lacking a microscopic theoretical description. To elucidate this fundamental issue, here we propose an exactly solvable Kondo-Heisenberg model in which the spins are defined in the momentum space and the k-space Kondo interaction corresponds to a highly nonlocal spin scattering in the coordinate space. Its solution reveals a continuous evolution of the Fermi surfaces with Kondo interaction and two-fluid behaviors similar to those observed in real materials. The electron density violates the usual Luttinger's theorem, but follows a generalized one allowing for partially enlarged Fermi surfaces due to partial Kondo screening in the momentum space. Our results highlight the consequence of nonlocal Kondo interaction relevant for strong quantum fluctuation regions and provide important insight into the microscopic description of two-fluid phenomenology in heavy fermion systems.

An emerging global picture of heavy fermion physics

Recent progresses using state-of-the-art experimental techniques have motivated a number of new insights on heavy fermion physics. This article gives a brief summary of the author's research along this direction. We discuss five major topics including: (1) development of phase coherence and two-stage hybridization; (2) two-fluid behavior and hidden universal scaling; (3) quantum phase transitions and fractionalized heavy fermion liquid; (4) quantum critical superconductivity; (5) material-specific properties. These cover the most essential parts of heavy fermion physics and lead to an emerging global picture beyond conventional theories based on mean-field or local approximations.

Scaling theory of magnetism in frustrated Kondo lattices

A scaling theory of the Kondo lattices with frustrated exchange interactions is developed, criterium of antiferromagnetic ordering and quantum-disordered state being investigated. The calculations taking into account magnon and incoherent spin dynamics are performed. Depending on the bare model parameters, one or two quantum phase transitions into non-magnetic spin-liquid and Kondo Fermi-liquid ground states can occur with increasing the bare coupling constant. Whereas the renormalization of the magnetic moment in the ordered phase can reach orders of magnitude, spin fluctuation frequency and coupling constant are moderately renormalized in the spin-liquid phase. This justifies application of the scaling approach. Possibility of a non-Fermi-liquid behavior is treated.

Hybridization Dynamics in CeCoIn_{5} Revealed by Ultrafast Optical Spectroscopy

We investigate the quasiparticle dynamics in the prototypical heavy fermion CeCoIn_{5} using ultrafast optical pump-probe spectroscopy. Our results indicate that this material system undergoes hybridization fluctuations before the establishment of heavy electron coherence, as the temperature decreases from ∼120  K (T^{†}) to ∼55  K (T^{*}). We reveal that the anomalous coherent phonon softening and damping reduction below T^{*} are directly associated with the emergence of collective hybridization. We also discover a distinct collective mode with an energy of ∼8  meV, which may be experimental evidence of the predicted unconventional density wave. Our findings provide important information for understanding the hybridization dynamics in heavy fermion systems.

Breakdown of the coherence effects and Fermi liquid behavior in YbAl3 nanoparticles

A change in the Kondo lattice behavior of bulk YbAl₃ has been observed when the alloy is shaped into nanoparticles (≈12 nm). Measurements of the electrical resistivity show inhibited coherence effects and deviation from the standard Fermi liquid behavior (T ²-dependence). These results are interpreted as being due to the effect of the disruption of the periodicity of the array of Kondo ions provoked by the size reduction process. Additionally, the ensemble of randomly placed nanoparticles also triggers an extra source of electronic scattering at very low temperatures (≈15 K) due to quantum interference effects.

Hybridization oscillation in the one-dimensional Kondo-Heisenberg model with Kondo holes

We use the density matrix renormalization group method to study the properties of the one-dimensional Kondo-Heisenberg model doped with Kondo holes. We find that the perturbation of the Kondo holes to the local hybridization exhibits spatial oscillation pattern and its amplitude decays exponentially with distance away from the Kondo hole sites. The hybridization oscillation is correlated with both the charge density oscillation of the conduction electrons and the oscillation in the correlation function of the Heisenberg spins. In particular, we find that the oscillation wavelength for intermediate Kondo couplings is given by the Fermi wavevector of the large Fermi surface even before it is formed. This suggests that heavy electrons responsible for the oscillation are already present in this regime and start to accumulate around the to-be-formed large Fermi surface in the Brillouin zone.

Quantum critical scaling and fluctuations in Kondo lattice materials

We propose a phenomenological framework for three classes of Kondo lattice materials that incorporates the interplay between the fluctuations associated with the antiferromagnetic quantum critical point and those produced by the hybridization quantum critical point that marks the end of local moment behavior. We show that these fluctuations give rise to two distinct regions of quantum critical scaling: Hybridization fluctuations are responsible for the logarithmic scaling in the density of states of the heavy electron Kondo liquid that emerges below the coherence temperature [Formula: see text], whereas the unconventional power law scaling in the resistivity that emerges at lower temperatures below [Formula: see text] may reflect the combined effects of hybridization and antiferromagnetic quantum critical fluctuations. Our framework is supported by experimental measurements on CeCoIn₅, CeRhIn₅, and other heavy electron materials.