Revolutionary Study Uncovers New Mechanism Behind Intriguing Strange Metal Behavior

Quantum critical points are special thresholds where materials change their electronic phases as they approach absolute zero. At these points, we often see strange and exciting physical properties.

One of the key quantum critical points is the Kondo-breakdown point. This marks a significant event where the Kondo effect, a phenomenon that traps magnetic moments in metals, collapses and gives rise to new properties in the material.

Researchers from Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Rutgers University, and Seoul National University have been studying this unique transition. They focused on understanding the dynamics around the Kondo-breakdown point using the periodic Anderson model, which describes heavy fermion materials.

Their recent study, published in Physical Review Letters, introduces a fresh theory that explains some unusual traits of a strange metal state. Andreas Gleis, the lead author, noted that they aimed to use modern computational methods to explore heavy fermion quantum criticality at lower energy levels than previously possible. "We stumbled upon unexpected results about strange metal behavior," he shared.

Gleis and his team suggest that near the quantum critical points, certain fluctuations in these materials decay slowly, aligning with a Planckian rate. This discovery is significant because it helps explain the unusual optical properties of strange metals as a fundamental characteristic rather than relying solely on single-electron dynamics. This contrasts with older theories that prioritize single-electron behavior.

Their findings align with optical conductivity measurements from experiments involving heavy-fermion compounds like YbRh₂Si₂ and CeCoIn₅, providing further validation for their theory.

The study also offers a new mechanism to understand intrinsic behaviors of strange metals, driven by strong local electron interactions near a quantum critical point. "Next, we want to investigate the conditions under which these strange metals emerge and their effects on phenomena like unconventional superconductivity," Gleis added.

This research sheds light on complex materials and could have implications for future technologies and novel materials design. For those interested, this article also links to the study for more technical insights: Dynamical Scaling and Planckian Dissipation Due to Heavy-Fermion Quantum Criticality.

Overall, these findings pave the way for better understanding of quantum materials and could unlock advancements in fields like electronics and energy.

Source link

Science, Physics News, Science news, Technology News, Physics, Materials, Nanotech, Technology, Science