Dynamics of a Tunneling Magnetic Impurity: Kondo Effect Induced Incoherence

L. Borda and G. Zaránd
Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 247203 – Published 3 June 2002

Abstract

We study how the formation of the Kondo compensation cloud influences the dynamical properties of a magnetic impurity that tunnels between two positions in a metal. The Kondo effect dynamically generates a strong tunneling impurity-conduction electron coupling, changes the temperature dependence of the tunneling rate, and may ultimately result in the destruction of the coherent motion of the particle at zero temperature. We find an interesting two-channel Kondo fixed point as well for a vanishing overlap between the electronic states that screen the magnetic impurity. We propose experiments where the predicted features could be observed.

  • Received 12 September 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.247203

©2002 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

L. Borda1,3 and G. Zaránd2,3

  • 1Lehrstuhl von Delft, Sektion Physik der LMU München, Theresienstrasse 37, 80333 München, Germany
  • 2Lyman Physics Laboratory, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02145
  • 3Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physics, TU Budapest, H-1521 Hungary

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Vol. 88, Iss. 24 — 17 June 2002

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