Quantum Valence Criticality as Origin of Unconventional Critical Phenomena

Abstract

It is shown that unconventional critical phenomena commonly observed in paramagnetic metals YbRh2Si2, YbRh2(Si0.95Ge0.05)2, and beta-YbAlB4 is naturally explained by the quantum criticality of Yb-valence fluctuations. We construct the mode coupling theory taking account of local correlation effects of f electrons and find that unconventional criticality is caused by the locality of the valence fluctuation mode. We show that measured low-temperature anomalies such as divergence of uniform spin susceptibility \chi T^{-\zeta) with $\zeta~0.6$ giving rise to a huge enhancement of the Wilson ratio and the emergence of T-linear resistivity are explained in a unified way.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Physical Review Letter