3D non-Fermi liquid behavior from 1D quantum critical local moments

TL;DR

This paper investigates how critical one-dimensional spin chains interacting with three-dimensional conduction electrons lead to non-Fermi liquid behavior, specifically a quasi-linear temperature dependence of resistivity, in systems like Yb$_2$Pt$_2$Pb.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical model of a Kondo lattice with different effective dimensionalities, revealing non-Fermi liquid behavior driven by 1D quantum critical spin chains.

Findings

Resistivity shows quasi-linear temperature dependence near criticality.

Critical spin chains induce non-Fermi liquid behavior in conduction electrons.

Theoretical framework applicable to Yb$_2$Pt$_2$Pb and similar materials.

Abstract

We study the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity in a system composed of critical spin chains interacting with three dimensional conduction electrons and driven to criticality via an external magnetic field. The relevant experimental system is Yb$_2$Pt$_2$Pb, a metal where itinerant electrons coexist with localized moments of Yb-ions which can be described in terms of effective S = 1/2 spins with dominantly one-dimensional exchange interaction. The spin subsystem becomes critical in a relatively weak magnetic field, where it behaves like a Luttinger liquid. We theoretically examine a Kondo lattice with different effective space dimensionalities of the two interacting subsystems. We characterize the corresponding non-Fermi liquid behavior due to the spin criticality by calculating the electronic relaxation rate and the dc resistivity and establish its quasi linear temperature dependence.