Quantum critical end point of the Kondo volume collapse

TL;DR

This paper investigates the quantum critical end point of the Kondo volume collapse in f-electron metals, revealing how quantum fluctuations influence phase transitions and can induce superconductivity and non-Fermi liquid behavior.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the quantum critical end point, including effects of quantum fluctuations and strain fluctuations on phase behavior and emergent phenomena.

Findings

Quantum critical fluctuations cause bifurcation of the phase line.

Critical strain fluctuations can induce superconductivity.

Non-Fermi liquid behavior emerges near the critical point.

Abstract

The Kondo volume collapse describes valence transitions in f-electron metals, and is characterized by a line of first order transitions in the pressure-temperature phase plane terminated at critical end points. We analyze the quantum critical end point, when the lower end point is tuned to T=0, and determine the specific heat, thermal expansion, and compressibility. We find that the inclusion of quantum critical fluctuations leads to a novel bifurcation of the first order phase line. Finally, we show that critical strain fluctuations can cause both, superconductivity and non-Fermi liquid behavior near the critical point.