Local quantum critical behavior in magnetic Kondo impurity models with partially screened moment

Abstract

In the strong coupling limit, an effective resonant level model is derived for the spin-1 underscreened Kondo impurity model. A local quantum critical behavior is induced by the formation of a bound state with partially screened magnetic moment, displaying a residual $Z_2$ symmetry, leading to a $\delta$-resonance at the Fermi level in the impurity spectral function. As a consequence, a logarithmic singularity appears in the real part of the impurity dynamic spin susceptibility as a function of $\max (\omega ,T)$, with $\omega$ as frequency, $T$ temperature. A small magnetic field breaks this $Z_2$ symmetry and suppresses the singularity. We also discuss the possible manifestation of such a quantum critical behavior in the spin-1/2 two Kondo impurity model and the single quantum dot system with even electron occupation.

8 pages, no figures; revised version