Non-Trivial Fixed Points and Truncated SU(4) Kondo Models in a Quasi-Quartet Multipolar Quantum Impurity Problem

TL;DR

This paper investigates the complex Kondo physics of a quasi-quartet multipolar impurity in tetragonal materials, revealing new non-trivial fixed points described by truncated SU(4) models, expanding understanding of non-Fermi liquid states.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of truncated SU(4) Kondo models for quasi-quartet multipolar impurities, uncovering new fixed points through renormalization group analysis.

Findings

Discovery of non-trivial fixed points in multipolar Kondo systems

Identification of truncated SU(4) Kondo models

Revealing a rich variety of quantum ground states

Abstract

The multipolar Kondo problem, wherein the quantum impurity carries higher-rank multipolar moments, has seen recent theoretical and experimental interest due to proposals of novel non-Fermi liquid states and the availability of a variety of material platforms. The multipolar nature of local moments, in conjunction with constraining crystal field symmetries, leads to a vast array of possible interactions and resulting non-Fermi liquid ground states. Previous works on Kondo physics have typically focussed on impurities that have two degenerate internal states. In this work, inspired by recent experiments on the tetragonal material YbRu$_{2}$Ge$_{2}$, which has been shown to exhibit a local moment with a quasi-fourfold degenerate ground state, we consider the Kondo effect for such a quasi-quartet multipolar impurity. In the tetragonal crystal field environment, the local moment supports dipolar, quadrupolar, and octupolar moments, which interact with conduction electrons in entangled spin and orbital states. Using renormalization group analysis, we uncover a number of emergent quantum ground states characterized by non-trivial fixed points. It is shown that these previously unidentified fixed points are described by truncated SU(4) Kondo models, where only some of the SU(4) generators (representing the impurity degrees of freedom) are coupled to conduction electrons. Such novel non-trivial fixed points are unique to the quasi-quartet multipolar impurity, reinforcing the idea that an unexplored rich diversity of phenomena may be produced by multipolar quantum impurity systems.