Kondo Physics in a Rare Earth Ion with Well Localized 4f Electrons
Abstract
Dilute Nd in simple cubic LaB6 shows electrical resistance and specific heat features at low temperature consistent with a Kondo scale of TK≲0.3K. Nd has a well-localized 4f3 J=9/2 Hund’s rule configuration which is not anticipated to be Kondo coupled to the conduction electrons in LaB6. We conjecture that the unexpected Kondo effect arises via participation of 4f quadrupolar degrees of freedom of the Nd crystal-field, ground-state quartet.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- June 2012
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.257201
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1206.4817
- Bibcode:
- 2012PhRvL.108y7201S
- Keywords:
-
- 75.20.Hr;
- 72.15.Qm;
- Local moment in compounds and alloys;
- Kondo effect valence fluctuations heavy fermions;
- Scattering mechanisms and Kondo effect;
- Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons
- E-Print:
- 5 pages, 4 figures