In this work we revise the theory of one electron in a ferromagnetically saturated local moment system interacting via a Kondo-like exchange interaction. The complete eigenstates for the finite lattice are derived. It is then shown, that parts of these states lose their norm in the limit of an infinite lattice. The correct (scattering) eigenstates are calculated in this limit. The time-dependent Schrodinger equation is solved for arbitrary initial conditions and the connection to the down-electron Greens function and the scattering states is worked out. A detailed analysis of the down-electron decay dynamics is given.
We present a novel pairing mechanism for electrons, mediated by magnons. These paired bound states are termed magnetic doublons. Applying numerically exact techniques (full diagonalization and the density-matrix renormalization group, DMRG) to the Kondo lattice model at strong exchange coupling $J$ for different fillings and magnetic configurations, we demonstrate that magnetic doublon excitations exist as composite objects with very weak dispersion. They are highly stable, support a novel inverse colossal magnetoresistance and potentially other effects.
We report neutron scattering experiments performed to investigate the dynamic magnetic properties of the Kondo-lattice compound YbNi2B2C. The spectrum of magnetic excitations is found to be broad, extending up to at least 150 meV, and contains inelastic peaks centred near 18 meV and 43 meV. At low energies we observe quasielastic scattering with a width Gamma = 2.1 meV. The results suggest a Yb3+ ground state with predominantly localized 4f electrons subject to (i) a crystalline electric field (CEF) potential, and (ii) a Kondo interaction, which at low temperatures is about an order of magnitude smaller than the CEF interaction. From an analysis of the dynamic magnetic response we conclude that the crystalline electric field acting on the Yb ions has a similar anisotropy to that in other RNi2B2C compounds, but is uniformly enhanced by almost a factor of 2. The static and dynamic magnetic properties of YbNi2B2C are found to be reconciled quite well by means of an approximation scheme to the Anderson impurity model, and this procedure also indicates that the effective Kondo interaction varies with temperature due to the crystal field splitting. We discuss the nature of the correlated-electron ground state of YbNi2B2C based on these and other experimental results, and suggest that this compound might be close to a quantum critical point on the non-magnetic side.
The Kondo lattice model is a paradigmatic model for the description of local moment systems, a class of materials exhibiting a range of strongly correlated phenomena including heavy fermion formation, magnetism, quantum criticality and unconventional superconductivity. Conventional theoretical approaches invoke fractionalization of the local moment spin through large-N and slave particle methods. In this work we develop a new formalism, based instead on non-canonical degrees of freedom. We demonstrate that the graded Lie algebra su(2|2) provides a powerful means of organizing correlations on the Kondo lattice through a splitting of the electronic degree of freedom, in a manner which entwines the conduction electrons with the local moment spins. This offers a novel perspective on heavy fermion formation. Unlike slave-particle methods, non-canonical degrees of freedom generically allow for a violation of the Luttinger sum rule, and we interpret recent angle resolved photoemission experiments on Ce-115 systems in view of this.
We investigate the two- and three-dimensional ferromagnetic Kondo lattice model by unbiased Monte Carlo simulations. A phase diagram for the two-dimensional model is presented, in which the stability of magnetic order and ferromagnetic polarons is examined with respect to the antiferromagnetic superexchange J and temperature. The Monte Carlo simulations reveal that J > 0.02 strengthens individual polarons while small J < 0.02 favors larger clusters and phase separation except for small doping. Lowering the temperature stabilizes ferromagnetic polarons for realistic J > 0.01, while phase separation is only favored for very small J < 0.01. Our Monte Carlo simulations show that low temperatures can lead to diagonal or vertical stripes depending on J. Simulations for three-dimensional systems yield ferromagnetic polarons, which form a `polaron lattice at higher doping levels 0.2 < x < 0.23, when independent polarons do no longer fit into the system. No tendency to phase separation is observed in three dimensions.
We study the persistent current circulating along a mesoscopic ring with a dot side-coupled to it when threaded by a magnetic field. A cluster including the dot and its vicinity is diagonalized and embedded into the rest of the system. The result is numerically exact. We show that a ring of any size can be in the Kondo regime, although for small sizes it depends upon the magnetic flux. In the Kondo regime, the current can be a smooth or a strongly dependent function of the gate potential according to the structure of occupation of the highest energetic electrons of the system.