Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2006.02171 · Physical review. B./Physical review. B

Quantum criticality in the spin-isotropic pseudogap Bose-Fermi Kondo model: Entropy, scaling, and the g -theorem

Zuodong Yu, Farzaneh Zamani, Pedro Ribeiro, Stefan Kirchner

Published Sep 11, 2020• 3 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We study the behavior of the entropy of the pseudogap Bose-Fermi Kondo model within a dynamical large-$N$ limit, where $N$ is related to the symmetry group of the model. This model is a general quantum impurity model that describes a localized level coupled to a fermionic bath having a density of states that vanishes in a power-law fashion near the Fermi energy and to a bosonic bath possessing a power-law spectral density below a cutoff energy. As a function of the couplings to the baths, various quantum phase transitions can occur. We study how the impurity entropy changes across these zero-temperature transitions and compare our results with predictions based on the $g$-theorem. This is accomplished by an analysis of the leading and subleading scaling behaviors. Our analysis shows that the $g$-theorem does not apply to the pseudogap Bose-Fermi Kondo model at the large-$N$ level. This inapplicability originates from an anomalous contribution to the scaling function in the hydrodynamic regime where ${k}_{B}T>\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}$ which is absent in the quantum coherent regime, i.e., for ${k}_{B}T<\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}$. We also compare our results with those obtained for the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev model.

DOI
10.1103/physrevb.102.115124

Related papers

Quantum criticality in the pseudogap Bose-Fermi Anderson and Kondo models: Interplay between fermion- and boson-induced Kondo destruction

J. H. Pixley, Stefan Kirchner, Kevin Ingersent +1 more

We address the phenomenon of critical Kondo destruction in pseudogap Bose-Fermi Anderson and Kondo quantum impurity models. These models describe a localized level coupled both to a fermionic bath having a density of states that vanishes like ${|\ensuremath{\epsilon}|}^{r}$ at the Fermi energy ($\ensuremath{\epsilon}=0$) and, via one component of the impurity spin, to a bosonic bath having a sub-Ohmic spectral density proportional to ${|\ensuremath{\omega}|}^{s}$. Each bath is capable by itself of suppressing the Kondo effect at a continuous quantum phase transition. We study the interplay between these two mechanisms for Kondo destruction using continuous-time quantum Monte Carlo for the pseudogap Bose-Fermi Anderson model with $0<r<\frac{1}{2}$ and $\frac{1}{2}\ensuremath{\le}s<1$, and applying the numerical renormalization group to the corresponding Kondo model. At particle-hole symmetry, the models exhibit a quantum-critical point between a Kondo (fermionic strong-coupling) phase and a localized (Kondo-destroyed) phase. The two solution methods, which are in good agreement in their domain of overlap, provide access to the many-body spectrum, as well as to correlation functions including, in particular, the single-particle Green's function and the static and dynamical local spin susceptibilities. The quantum-critical regime exhibits the hyperscaling of critical exponents and $\ensuremath{\omega}/T$ scaling in the dynamics that characterize an interacting critical point. The $(r,s)$ plane can be divided into three regions: one each in which the calculated critical properties are dominated by the bosonic bath alone or by the fermionic bath alone, and between these two regions, a third in which the bosonic bath governs the critical spin response but both baths influence the renormalization-group flow near the quantum-critical point.

arXiv:1306.2352•Physical Review B•Dec 10, 2013•20 citations

Quantum phase transitions in a pseudogap Anderson-Holstein model

Mengxing Cheng, Kevin Ingersent

We study a pseudogap Anderson-Holstein model of a magnetic impurity level that hybridizes with a conduction band whose density of states vanishes in power-law fashion at the Fermi energy, and couples, via its charge, to a nondispersive bosonic mode (e.g., an optical phonon). The model, which we treat using poor-man's scaling and the numerical renormalization group, exhibits quantum phase transitions of different types depending on the strength of the impurity-boson coupling. For weak impurity-boson coupling, the suppression of the density of states near the Fermi energy leads to quantum phase transitions between strong-coupling (Kondo) and local-moment phases. For sufficiently strong impurity-boson coupling, however, the bare repulsion between a pair of electrons in the impurity level becomes an effective attraction, leading to quantum phase transitions between strong-coupling (charge Kondo) and local-charge phases. Even though the Hamiltonian exhibits different symmetries in the spin and charge sectors, the thermodynamic properties near the two types of quantum phase transition are closely related under spin-charge interchange. Moreover, the critical responses to a local magnetic field (for small impurity-boson coupling) and to an electric potential (for large impurity-boson coupling) are characterized by the same exponents, whose values place these quantum-critical points in the universality class of the pseudogap Anderson model. One specific case of the pseudogap Anderson-Holstein model may be realized in a double-quantum-dot device, where the quantum phase transitions manifest themselves in the finite-temperature linear electrical conductance.

arXiv:1301.2719•Physical Review B•Feb 26, 2013•14 citations

Quantum phase transitions and thermodynamics of the power-law Kondo model

Andrew K. Mitchell, Matthias Vojta C, R. Bulla +1 more

We revisit the physics of a Kondo impurity coupled to a fermionic host with a diverging power-law density of states near the Fermi level, $\ensuremath{\rho}(\ensuremath{\omega})\ensuremath{\sim}{|\ensuremath{\omega}|}^{r}$, with exponent $\ensuremath{-}1<r<0$. Using the analytical understanding of several fixed points, based partially on powerful mappings between models with bath exponents $r$ and $(\ensuremath{-}r)$, combined with accurate numerical renormalization group calculations, we determine thermodynamic quantities within the stable phases and also near the various quantum phase transitions. Antiferromagnetic Kondo coupling leads to strong screening with a negative zero-temperature impurity entropy, while ferromagnetic Kondo coupling can induce a stable fractional spin moment. We formulate the quantum field theories for all critical fixed points of the problem, which are fermionic in nature and allow for a perturbative renormalization-group treatment.

arXiv:1309.0167•Physical Review B•Nov 12, 2013•25 citations

Quantum criticality out of equilibrium in the pseudogap Kondo model

Chung‐Hou Chung, Kenneth Yi-Jie Zhang

Quantum phase transitions out of equilibrium are outstanding emergent subjects in condensed matter physics with great fundamental importance and challenges. We theoretically investigate here the nonequilibrium quantum phase transition in a generic nano-setup: the pseudogap Kondo model where a Kondo quantum dot couples to two---left (L) and right (R)---voltage-biased fermionic leads with power-law density of states (DOS) with respect to their Fermi levels ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{L/R}$, ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{c,L(R)}(\ensuremath{\omega})\ensuremath{\propto}{|\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{L(R)}|}^{r}$ with $0<r<1$. In equilibrium (${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{L}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{R}=0$) and for $0<r<1/2$, with increasing Kondo correlations this model exhibits a quantum phase transition from a unscreened local moment (LM) phase to the Kondo screened phase. At finite bias voltages and near criticality, we discover new nonequilibrium universal scaling behaviors in conductance, conduction electron $T$ matrix, and local spin susceptibility via a controlled frequency-dependent renormalization group (RG) approach. The current-induced decoherence is key to understanding these distinct universal nonequilibrium quantum critical regimes. The relevance of our results to experiment is discussed.

arXiv:1107.2195•Physical Review B•May 3, 2012•5 citations

Two-channel pseudogap Kondo and Anderson models: Quantum phase transitions and non-Fermi liquids

Imke Schneider, Lars Fritz, Frithjof B. Anders +2 more

We discuss the two-channel Kondo problem with a pseudogap density of states $\ensuremath{\rho}(\ensuremath{\omega})\ensuremath{\propto}{|\ensuremath{\omega}|}^{r}$ of the bath fermions. Combining both analytical and numerical renormalization group techniques, we characterize the impurity phases and quantum phase transitions of the relevant Kondo and Anderson models. The line of stable points, corresponding to the overscreened non-Fermi-liquid behavior of the metallic $r=0$ case, is replaced by a stable particle-hole-symmetric intermediate-coupling fixed point for $0<r<{r}_{\mathrm{max}}\ensuremath{\approx}0.23$. For $r>{r}_{\mathrm{max}}$, this non-Fermi-liquid phase disappears, and instead a critical fixed point with an emergent spin-channel symmetry appears, controlling the quantum phase transition between two phases with stable spin and channel moments, respectively. We propose low-energy field theories to describe the quantum phase transitions, all being formulated in fermionic variables. We employ $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ expansion techniques to calculate critical properties near the critical dimensions $r=0$ and 1, the latter being potentially relevant for two-channel Kondo impurities in neutral graphene. We find the analytical results to be in excellent agreement with those obtained from applying Wilson's numerical renormalization group technique.

arXiv:1108.2213•Physical Review B•Sep 29, 2011•18 citations

Phase boundaries of power-law Anderson and Kondo models: A poor man's scaling study

Mengxing Cheng, Tathagata Chowdhury, Aaron S. Mohammed +1 more

We use the poor man's scaling approach to study the phase boundaries of a pair of quantum impurity models featuring a power-law density of states $\ensuremath{\rho}(\ensuremath{\varepsilon})\ensuremath{\propto}{|\ensuremath{\varepsilon}|}^{r}$, either vanishing (for $r>0)$ or diverging (for $r<0)$ at the Fermi energy $\ensuremath{\varepsilon}=0$, that gives rise to quantum phase transitions between local-moment and Kondo-screened phases. For the Anderson model with a pseudogap (i.e., $r>0)$, we find the phase boundary for (a) $0<r<1/2$, a range over which the model exhibits interacting quantum critical points both at and away from particle-hole (p-h) symmetry, and (b) $r>1$, where the phases are separated by first-order quantum phase transitions that are accessible only for broken p-h symmetry. For the p-h-symmetric Kondo model with easy-axis or easy-plane anisotropy of the impurity-band spin exchange, the phase boundary and scaling trajectories are obtained for both $r>0$ and $r<0$. Throughout the regime of weak-to-moderate impurity-band coupling in which poor man's scaling is expected to be valid, the approach predicts phase boundaries in excellent qualitative and good quantitative agreement with the nonperturbative numerical renormalization group, while also establishing the functional relations between model parameters along these boundaries.

arXiv:1702.06515•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Jul 5, 2017•10 citations
We study the behavior of the entropy of the pseudogap Bose-Fermi Kondo model within a dynamical large-NNN limit, where NNN is related to the symmetry group of the model. This model is a general quantum impurity model that describes a localized level coupled to a fermionic bath having a density of states that vanishes in a power-law fashion near the Fermi energy and to a bosonic bath possessing a power-law spectral density below a cutoff energy. As a function of the couplings to the baths, various quantum phase transitions can occur. We study how the impurity entropy changes across these zero-temperature transitions and compare our results with predictions based on the ggg-theorem. This is accomplished by an analysis of the leading and subleading scaling behaviors. Our analysis shows that the ggg-theorem does not apply to the pseudogap Bose-Fermi Kondo model at the large-NNN level. This inapplicability originates from an anomalous contribution to the scaling function in the hydrodynamic regime where kBT>\ensuremathℏ\ensuremathω{k}_{B}T>\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}kB​T>\ensuremathℏ\ensuremathω which is absent in the quantum coherent regime, i.e., for kBT<\ensuremathℏ\ensuremathω{k}_{B}T<\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}kB​T<\ensuremathℏ\ensuremathω. We also compare our results with those obtained for the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev model.
We address the phenomenon of critical Kondo destruction in pseudogap Bose-Fermi Anderson and Kondo quantum impurity models. These models describe a localized level coupled both to a fermionic bath having a density of states that vanishes like ${|\ensuremath{\epsilon}|}^{r}$ at the Fermi energy ($\ensuremath{\epsilon}=0$) and, via one component of the impurity spin, to a bosonic bath having a sub-Ohmic spectral density proportional to ${|\ensuremath{\omega}|}^{s}$. Each bath is capable by itself of suppressing the Kondo effect at a continuous quantum phase transition. We study the interplay between these two mechanisms for Kondo destruction using continuous-time quantum Monte Carlo for the pseudogap Bose-Fermi Anderson model with 0<r<120<r<\frac{1}{2}0<r<21​ and $\frac{1}{2}\ensuremath{\le}s<1$, and applying the numerical renormalization group to the corresponding Kondo model. At particle-hole symmetry, the models exhibit a quantum-critical point between a Kondo (fermionic strong-coupling) phase and a localized (Kondo-destroyed) phase. The two solution methods, which are in good agreement in their domain of overlap, provide access to the many-body spectrum, as well as to correlation functions including, in particular, the single-particle Green's function and the static and dynamical local spin susceptibilities. The quantum-critical regime exhibits the hyperscaling of critical exponents and $\ensuremath{\omega}/T$ scaling in the dynamics that characterize an interacting critical point. The (r,s)(r,s)(r,s) plane can be divided into three regions: one each in which the calculated critical properties are dominated by the bosonic bath alone or by the fermionic bath alone, and between these two regions, a third in which the bosonic bath governs the critical spin response but both baths influence the renormalization-group flow near the quantum-critical point.
We study a pseudogap Anderson-Holstein model of a magnetic impurity level that hybridizes with a conduction band whose density of states vanishes in power-law fashion at the Fermi energy, and couples, via its charge, to a nondispersive bosonic mode (e.g., an optical phonon). The model, which we treat using poor-man's scaling and the numerical renormalization group, exhibits quantum phase transitions of different types depending on the strength of the impurity-boson coupling. For weak impurity-boson coupling, the suppression of the density of states near the Fermi energy leads to quantum phase transitions between strong-coupling (Kondo) and local-moment phases. For sufficiently strong impurity-boson coupling, however, the bare repulsion between a pair of electrons in the impurity level becomes an effective attraction, leading to quantum phase transitions between strong-coupling (charge Kondo) and local-charge phases. Even though the Hamiltonian exhibits different symmetries in the spin and charge sectors, the thermodynamic properties near the two types of quantum phase transition are closely related under spin-charge interchange. Moreover, the critical responses to a local magnetic field (for small impurity-boson coupling) and to an electric potential (for large impurity-boson coupling) are characterized by the same exponents, whose values place these quantum-critical points in the universality class of the pseudogap Anderson model. One specific case of the pseudogap Anderson-Holstein model may be realized in a double-quantum-dot device, where the quantum phase transitions manifest themselves in the finite-temperature linear electrical conductance.
We revisit the physics of a Kondo impurity coupled to a fermionic host with a diverging power-law density of states near the Fermi level, $\ensuremath{\rho}(\ensuremath{\omega})\ensuremath{\sim}{|\ensuremath{\omega}|}^{r}$, with exponent $\ensuremath{-}1<r<0$. Using the analytical understanding of several fixed points, based partially on powerful mappings between models with bath exponents rrr and $(\ensuremath{-}r)$, combined with accurate numerical renormalization group calculations, we determine thermodynamic quantities within the stable phases and also near the various quantum phase transitions. Antiferromagnetic Kondo coupling leads to strong screening with a negative zero-temperature impurity entropy, while ferromagnetic Kondo coupling can induce a stable fractional spin moment. We formulate the quantum field theories for all critical fixed points of the problem, which are fermionic in nature and allow for a perturbative renormalization-group treatment.
Quantum phase transitions out of equilibrium are outstanding emergent subjects in condensed matter physics with great fundamental importance and challenges. We theoretically investigate here the nonequilibrium quantum phase transition in a generic nano-setup: the pseudogap Kondo model where a Kondo quantum dot couples to two---left (L) and right (R)---voltage-biased fermionic leads with power-law density of states (DOS) with respect to their Fermi levels ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{L/R}$, ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{c,L(R)}(\ensuremath{\omega})\ensuremath{\propto}{|\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{L(R)}|}^{r}$ with 0<r<10<r<10<r<1. In equilibrium (${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{L}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{R}=0$) and for 0<r<1/20<r<1/20<r<1/2, with increasing Kondo correlations this model exhibits a quantum phase transition from a unscreened local moment (LM) phase to the Kondo screened phase. At finite bias voltages and near criticality, we discover new nonequilibrium universal scaling behaviors in conductance, conduction electron TTT matrix, and local spin susceptibility via a controlled frequency-dependent renormalization group (RG) approach. The current-induced decoherence is key to understanding these distinct universal nonequilibrium quantum critical regimes. The relevance of our results to experiment is discussed.
We discuss the two-channel Kondo problem with a pseudogap density of states $\ensuremath{\rho}(\ensuremath{\omega})\ensuremath{\propto}{|\ensuremath{\omega}|}^{r}$ of the bath fermions. Combining both analytical and numerical renormalization group techniques, we characterize the impurity phases and quantum phase transitions of the relevant Kondo and Anderson models. The line of stable points, corresponding to the overscreened non-Fermi-liquid behavior of the metallic r=0r=0r=0 case, is replaced by a stable particle-hole-symmetric intermediate-coupling fixed point for $0<r<{r}_{\mathrm{max}}\ensuremath{\approx}0.23$. For r>rmaxr>{r}_{\mathrm{max}}r>rmax​, this non-Fermi-liquid phase disappears, and instead a critical fixed point with an emergent spin-channel symmetry appears, controlling the quantum phase transition between two phases with stable spin and channel moments, respectively. We propose low-energy field theories to describe the quantum phase transitions, all being formulated in fermionic variables. We employ $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ expansion techniques to calculate critical properties near the critical dimensions r=0r=0r=0 and 1, the latter being potentially relevant for two-channel Kondo impurities in neutral graphene. We find the analytical results to be in excellent agreement with those obtained from applying Wilson's numerical renormalization group technique.
We use the poor man's scaling approach to study the phase boundaries of a pair of quantum impurity models featuring a power-law density of states $\ensuremath{\rho}(\ensuremath{\varepsilon})\ensuremath{\propto}{|\ensuremath{\varepsilon}|}^{r}$, either vanishing (for r>0)r>0)r>0) or diverging (for r<0)r<0)r<0) at the Fermi energy $\ensuremath{\varepsilon}=0$, that gives rise to quantum phase transitions between local-moment and Kondo-screened phases. For the Anderson model with a pseudogap (i.e., r>0)r>0)r>0), we find the phase boundary for (a) 0<r<1/20<r<1/20<r<1/2, a range over which the model exhibits interacting quantum critical points both at and away from particle-hole (p-h) symmetry, and (b) r>1r>1r>1, where the phases are separated by first-order quantum phase transitions that are accessible only for broken p-h symmetry. For the p-h-symmetric Kondo model with easy-axis or easy-plane anisotropy of the impurity-band spin exchange, the phase boundary and scaling trajectories are obtained for both r>0r>0r>0 and r<0r<0r<0. Throughout the regime of weak-to-moderate impurity-band coupling in which poor man's scaling is expected to be valid, the approach predicts phase boundaries in excellent qualitative and good quantitative agreement with the nonperturbative numerical renormalization group, while also establishing the functional relations between model parameters along these boundaries.