Emergence of a Fermionic Finite-Temperature Critical Point in a Kondo Lattice

Po-Hao Chou, Liang-Jun Zhai, Chung-Hou Chung, Chung-Yu Mou, and Ting-Kuo Lee
Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 177002 – Published 27 April 2016
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

The underlying Dirac point is central to the profound physics manifested in a wide class of materials. However, it is often difficult to drive a system with Dirac points across the massless fermionic critical point. Here by exploiting screening of local moments under spin-orbit interactions in a Kondo lattice, we show that below the Kondo temperature, the Kondo lattice undergoes a topological transition from a strong topological insulator to a weak topological insulator at a finite temperature TD. At TD, massless Dirac points emerge and the Kondo lattice becomes a Dirac semimetal. Our analysis indicates that the emergent relativistic symmetry dictates nontrivial thermal responses over large parameter and temperature regimes. In particular, it yields critical scaling behaviors both in magnetic and transport responses near TD.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 7 January 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.177002

© 2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Po-Hao Chou1, Liang-Jun Zhai1, Chung-Hou Chung2, Chung-Yu Mou1,3,4, and Ting-Kuo Lee3

  • 1Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China
  • 2Electrophysics Department, National Chiao-Tung University, HsinChu 30010, Taiwan, Republic of China
  • 3Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Nankang 115, Taiwan, Republic of China
  • 4Physics Division, National Center for Theoretical Sciences, P.O.Box 2-131, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 116, Iss. 17 — 29 April 2016

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×