Abstract
We exploit the decoherence of electrons due to magnetic impurities, studied via weak localization, to resolve a long-standing question concerning the classic Kondo systems of Fe impurities in the noble metals gold and silver: which Kondo-type model yields a realistic description of the relevant multiple bands, spin, and orbital degrees of freedom? Previous studies suggest a fully screened spin Kondo model, but the value of remained ambiguous. We perform density functional theory calculations that suggest . We also compare previous and new measurements of both the resistivity and decoherence rate in quasi-one-dimensional wires to numerical renormalization group predictions for , 1, and , finding excellent agreement for .
- Received 8 October 2008
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.056802
©2009 American Physical Society