Quantum Valence Criticality as an Origin of Unconventional Critical Phenomena

Shinji Watanabe and Kazumasa Miyake
Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 186403 – Published 28 October 2010

Abstract

It is shown that unconventional critical phenomena commonly observed in paramagnetic metals YbRh2Si2, YbRh2(Si0.95Ge0.05)2, and β-YbAlB4 are naturally explained by the quantum criticality of Yb-valence fluctuations. We construct the mode-coupling theory taking account of local correlation effects of f electrons and find that unconventional criticality is caused by the locality of the valence fluctuation mode. We show that measured low-temperature anomalies such as divergence of uniform spin susceptibility χTζ with ζ0.6 giving rise to a huge enhancement of the Wilson ratio and the emergence of T-linear resistivity are explained in a unified way.

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  • Received 6 April 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.186403

© 2010 The American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Shinji Watanabe and Kazumasa Miyake

  • Division of Materials Physics, Department of Materials Engineering Science, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-8531, Japan

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Issue

Vol. 105, Iss. 18 — 29 October 2010

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