Valence-bonds, spin liquids and unconventional criticality in a 1D Kondo insulator

TL;DR

This paper explores a 1D Kondo lattice model showing how tuning electron kinetic energy induces transitions between different quantum phases, including Kondo insulators, valence-bond solids, and spin liquids, with evidence of an unconventional phase transition.

Contribution

It introduces a tunable 1D Kondo lattice model demonstrating kinetic-energy-driven phase transitions and unconventional criticality between distinct Kondo insulators.

Findings

Kinetic energy tuning induces phase transitions in the model.

Identification of a continuous transition between two Kondo insulators.

Evidence for unconventional criticality with symmetry distinctions.

Abstract

We consider a one-dimensional multi-orbital Kondo lattice model and show that by tuning the kinetic energy of the itinerant electrons it is possible to stabilize Kondo insulators with non-trivial spin physics. In particular, depending on the size of the exchange coupling between the local moments, we find kinetic-energy-driven transitions between a featureless Kondo insulator and a valence-bond solid or a gapless spin liquid. We also provide evidence for an unconventional continuous phase transition between two featureless Kondo insulators distinguished by their quantum numbers under reflection symmetry.