Kondo effect in a magnetic field and the magnetoresistivity of kondo alloys

The effect of a magnetic field on the spectral density of a S = 1/2 Kondo impurity is investigated at zero and finite temperatures by using Wilson's numerical renormalization group method. A splitting of the total spectral density is found for fields larger than a critical value H(c)(T = 0) approximately 0.5T(K), where T(K) is the Kondo scale. The splitting correlates with a peak in the magnetoresistivity of dilute magnetic alloys which we calculate and compare with the experiments on CexLa1-xAl2,x = 0.0063. The linear magnetoconductance of quantum dots exhibiting the Kondo effect is also calculated.     

Self-contained Kondo effect in single molecules

Kondo coupling of and conduction electrons is a common feature of f-electron intermetallics. Similar effects should occur in carbon ring systems (metallocenes). Evidence for Kondo coupling in Ce(C(8)H(8)(2) (cerocene) and the ytterbocene Cp*(2) Yb(bipy) is reported from magnetic susceptibility and L(III)-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy. These well-defined systems provide a new way to study the Kondo effect on the nanoscale, should generate insight into the Anderson Lattice problem, and indicate the importance of this often-ignored contribution to bonding in organometallics.     

Finite-size effect and Kondo screening effect in an A-B ring with a quantum dot

The properties of the ground state of a closed dot－ring system with a magnetic flux in the Kondo regime are studied theoretically by means of a one-impurity Anderson Hamiltonian. The Hamiltonian is solved by means of the slave-boson mean-field theory. It is shown that at T=0, a suppressed Kondo effect exists in this system even when the mean level spacing of electrons in the ring is larger than the bulk Kondo temperature. The physical quantities depend sensitively on both the parity of the system and the size of the ring; the rich physical behaviour can be attributed to the coexistence of both the finite-size effect and the Kondo screening effect. It is also possible to detect the Kondo screening cloud by measuring the persistent current or the zero field impurity susceptibility χ_{imp} directly in future experiments.     

Kondo effect in quantum dots at high voltage: universality and scaling

We examine the properties of a dc-biased quantum dot in the Coulomb blockade regime. For voltages V that are large compared to the Kondo temperature T(K), the physics is governed by the scales V and gamma, where gamma approximately V/ln(2)(V/T(K)) is the nonequilibrium decoherence rate induced by the voltage-driven current. Based on scaling arguments, self-consistent perturbation theory, and perturbative renormalization group, we argue that due to the large gamma the system can be described by renormalized perturbation theory in 1/ln(V/T(K))<1. However, in certain variants of the Kondo problem, two-channel Kondo physics is induced by a large voltage V.     

Universality of the Kondo effect in quantum dots with ferromagnetic leads

We investigate quantum dots in clean single-wall carbon nanotubes with ferromagnetic PdNi-leads in the Kondo regime. Most of the Kondo resonances exhibit a splitting, which depends on the tunnel coupling to the leads and an external magnetic field B, but only weakly on the gate voltage. Using numerical renormalization group calculations, we demonstrate that all salient features of the data can be understood using a simple model for the magnetic properties of the leads. The magnetoconductance at zero bias and low temperature depends in a universal way on gμ(B)(B-B(c))/k(B)T(K), where T(K) is the Kondo temperature and B(c) the external field compensating the splitting.     

Probing the Kondo density of states in a three-terminal quantum ring

We have measured the Kondo effect in a quantum ring connected to three terminals. In this configuration nonlinear transport measurements allow us to check which lead contributes to the Kondo density of states (DOS) and which does not. The ring geometry allows a fine-tuning of the coupling to each lead through the Aharonov-Bohm effect via application of a magnetic field. When the ring is connected to two strongly and one weakly coupled leads, conductance through the weakly coupled lead provides a direct measurement of the DOS in the Kondo regime. By applying a bias between the two strongly coupled leads, we demonstrate directly the splitting of the out-of-equilibrium Kondo DOS.     

Theory of inelastic scattering from magnetic impurities

We use the numerical renormalization group method to calculate the single-particle matrix elements T of the many-body T matrix of the conduction electrons scattered by a magnetic impurity at T=0 temperature. Since T determines both the total and the elastic, spin-diagonal scattering cross sections, we are able to compute the full energy, spin, and magnetic field dependence of the inelastic scattering cross section sigma(inel)(omega). We find an almost linear frequency dependence of sigma(inel)(omega) below the Kondo temperature T(K), which crosses over to a omega(2) behavior only at extremely low energies. Our method can be generalized to other quantum impurity models.     

Anomalous Kondo-Switching Effect of a Spin-Flip Quantum Dot Embedded in an Aharonov-Bohm Ring

We theoretically investigate the Kondo effect of a quantum dot embedded in a mesoscopic Aharonov-Bohm (AB) ring in the presence of the spin flip processes by means of the one-impurity Anderson Hamiltonian. Based on the slave-boson mean-field theory, we find that in this system the persistent current (PC) sensitively depends on the parity and size of the AB ring and can be tuned by the spin-flip scattering (R). In the small AB ring, the PC issuppressed due to the enhancing R weakening the Kondo resonance.On the contrary, in the large AB ring, with R increasing, the peakof PC firstly moves up to max-peak and then down. Especially, the PCphase shift of ø appears suddenly with the proper value of R, implying the existence of the anomalous Kondo effect in this system. Thus this system may be a candidate for quantum switch.     

Proposed search for a(0)(0)(980)-f(0)(980) mixing in polarization phenomena

The K+ and K0 meson mass difference induces the mixing of the a(0)(0)(980) and f(0)(980) resonances, the amplitude of which, between the K+K- and K0(-)K(0) thresholds, is large in magnitude, of the order of m(K)m(2)(K0)sqrt[-m(2)(K+)] approximately sqrt[alpha] m(2)(K), and possesses the phase sharply varying by about 90 degrees. We suggest performing the polarized target experiments on the reaction pi(-)p-->etapi(0)n at high energy in which the fact of the existence of a(0)(0)(980)-f(0)(980) mixing can be unambiguously and very easily established through the presence of a strong jump in the azimuthal asymmetry of the etapi(0) S wave production cross section near the K(-)K thresholds. The presented estimates of the polarization effect to be expected in experiment are to a great extent model independent.     

Measurement of quantum noise in a carbon nanotube quantum dot in the Kondo regime

The current emission noise of a carbon nanotube quantum dot in the Kondo regime is measured at frequencies ν of the order or higher than the frequency associated with the Kondo effect k(B)T (K)/h, with TK the Kondo temperature. The carbon nanotube is coupled via an on-chip resonant circuit to a quantum noise detector, a superconductor-insulator-superconductor junction. We find for hν ≈ k(B)T(K) a Kondo effect related singularity at a voltage bias eV ≈ hν, and a strong reduction of this singularity for hν ≈ 3k(B)T(K), in good agreement with theory. Our experiment constitutes a new original tool for the investigation of the nonequilibrium dynamics of many-body phenomena in nanoscale devices.     

Kondo Resonance versus Fano Interference in Double Quantum Dots Coupled to a Two-Lead One-Ring System

We analyse the transport properties of a coupled double quantum dot （DQD） device with one of the dots （QD1） coupled to metallic leads and the other （QD2） embedded in an Aharonov-Bhom （A-B） ring by means of the slaveboson mean-field theory. It is found that in this system, the Kondo resonance and the Fano interference exist simultaneously, the enhancing Kondo effect and the increasing hopping of the QD2-Ring destroy the localized electron state in the QD2 for the QD1-leads, and accordingly, the Fano interference between the DQD-leads and the QD1-leads are suppressed. Under some conditions, the Fano interference can be quenched fully and the single Kondo resonance of the QD1-leads comes into being. Moreover, when the magnetic flux of the A-B ring is zero, the influence of the parity of the A-B ring on the transport properties is very weak, but this influence becomes more obvious with non-zero magnetic flux. Thus this model may be a candidate for future device applications.     

Nonequilibrium transport through a Kondo dot in a magnetic field: perturbation theory and poor man's scaling

We consider electron transport through a quantum dot described by the Kondo model in the regime of large transport voltage V in the presence of a magnetic field B with max((V,B)>T(K). The electric current I and the local magnetization M are found to be universal functions of V/T(K) and B/T(K), where T(K) is the equilibrium Kondo temperature. We present a generalization of the perturbative renormali-zation group to frequency dependent coupling functions, as necessitated by the structure of bare perturbation theory. We calculate I and M within a poor man's scaling approach and find excellent agreement with experiment.     

Tuning the Kondo effect with a mechanically controllable break junction

We study electron transport through C(60) molecules in the Kondo regime using a mechanically controllable break junction. By varying the electrode spacing, we are able to change both the width and the height of the Kondo resonance, indicating modification of the Kondo temperature and the relative strength of coupling to the two electrodes. The linear conductance as a function of T/T(K) agrees with the scaling function expected for the spin-1/2 Kondo problem. We are also able to tune finite-bias Kondo features which appear at the energy of the first C(60) intracage vibrational mode.     

Two-stage Kondo effect in a quantum dot at a high magnetic field

We report a strong Kondo effect (Kondo temperature approximately 4 K) at high magnetic field in a selective area growth semiconductor quantum dot. The Kondo effect is ascribed to a singlet-triplet transition in the ground state of the dot. At the transition, the low-temperature conductance approaches the unitary limit. Away from the transition, for low bias voltages and temperatures, the conductance is sharply reduced. The observed behavior is compared to predictions for a two-stage Kondo effect in quantum dots coupled to single-channel leads.     

Effect of localized spins in coherent transport through quantum dots

The effect of localized spins on the quantum coherence in solids is discussed. A quantum dot with an odd number of electrons can be a model system for a localized spin. It is experimentally shown that a spin flip scattering by a quantum dot pulls the trigger of quantum decoherence. On the other hand, spin flip scattering is the basic process to construct the Kondo singlet state around a magnetic impurity. Through an interference effect of the Kondo state (the Fano–Kondo effect) in a side-coupled dot system, we show experimentally that the Kondo singlet state is quantum mechanically coherent. The analysis of the Fano–Kondo lineshape indicates the locking of the phase shift to π/2, which is in agreement with theoretical predictions. The Fano–Kondo effect is also observed in an Aharonov–Bohm ring, in which a quantum dot is embedded, and also indicates the phase shift locking to π/2.     

Temperature dependence of a single Kondo impurity

Recent advances in scanning tunneling microscopy have allowed the observation of the Kondo effect for individual magnetic atoms. One hallmark of the Kondo effect is a strong temperature-induced broadening of the Kondo resonance. In order to test this prediction for individual impurities, we have investigated the temperature dependent electronic structure of isolated Ti atoms on Ag(100). We find that the Kondo resonance is strongly broadened in the temperature range T = 6.8 K to T = 49.0 K. These results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions for Kondo impurities in the Fermi liquid regime, and confirm the role of electron-electron scattering as the main thermal broadening mechanism.     

Universal distribution of Kondo temperatures in dirty metals

Kondo screening of diluted magnetic impurities in a disordered host is studied analytically and numerically in one, two, and three dimensions. It is shown that in the T(K) --> 0 limit the distribution of Kondo temperatures has a universal form P(T(K)) approximately T(K) (-a) that holds in the insulating phase and persists in the metallic phase close to the metal-insulator transition. Moreover, the exponent depends only on the dimensionality. The most important consequence of this result is that the T dependence of thermodynamic properties is smooth across the metal-insulator transition in three dimensional systems.     

Kondo effect in a many-electron quantum ring

The Kondo effect is investigated in a many-electron quantum ring as a function of the magnetic field. For fields applied perpendicular to the plane of the ring a modulation of the Kondo effect with the Aharonov-Bohm period is observed. This effect is discussed in terms of the energy spectrum of the ring and the parametrically changing tunnel coupling. In addition, we use gate voltages to modify the ground-state spin of the ring. The observed splitting of the Kondo-related zero-bias anomaly in this configuration is tuned with an in-plane magnetic field.     

Kondo model for the "0.7 anomaly" in transport through a quantum point contact

Experiments on quantum point contacts have highlighted an anomalous conductance plateau around 0.7(2e(2)/h), with features suggestive of the Kondo effect. Here, an Anderson model for transport through a point contact analyzed in the Kondo limit. Hybridization to the band increases abruptly with energy but decreases with valence, so that the background conductance and the Kondo temperature T(K) are dominated by different valence transitions. This accounts for the high residual conductance above T(K). The model explains the observed gate-voltage, temperature, magnetic field, and bias-voltage dependences. A spin-polarized current is predicted even for low magnetic fields.     

嵌入T型耦合双量子点介观A-B环系统的显著Fano 效应

利用平均场近似理论,研究了一个嵌入T型弱耦合双量子点的介观环系统的基态性质. 结果表明,体系中复杂的基态性质源于Kondo效应与Fano效应相互竞争. 当介观环的尺寸达到足以产生完全Kondo共振时,随双量子点间耦合强度的增强,尖锐的持续电流峰出现了,且越发显著,这说明体系中存在着显著的Fano 效应. 但介观环的Kondo共振持续电流峰值却几乎不发生变化,这为测定Kondo 屏蔽云提供了一个新的可能模型. 关键词： 耦合量子点 持续电流 Kondo效应 Fano 效应