A theory of resistivity in Kondo lattice materials: the memory function approach

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework using the memory function approach to analyze the temperature-dependent resistivity in Kondo lattice materials, capturing key features like the resistivity upturn and high-temperature behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive memory function-based theory for resistivity in Kondo lattices, including temperature evolution and comparison with experimental data.

Findings

Resistivity shows an upturn at low temperatures.

At high temperatures, resistivity scales as T^{3/2}.

The theory agrees reasonably well with experiments.

Abstract

We theoretically analyse D.C. resistivity($\rho$) in the Kondo-lattice model using the powerful memory function approach. The complete temperature evolution of $\rho$ is investigated using the W\"{o}lfle-G\"{o}tze expansion of the memory function. The resistivity in this model originates due to spin-flip magnetic scattering of conduction $s$-electron off the quasi-localized $d$ or $f$ electron spins. We find the famous resistivity upturn at lower temperature regime ($k_B T<<\mu_d$), where $\mu_d$ is the effective chemical potential of $d$-electrons. In the high temperature regime $(\mu_d<<k_B T)$ we discover that $\rho \propto T^{\frac{3}{2}}$. The worked out theory is quantitatively compared with experimental data and reasonably good agreement is found.