Universal Behavior of Heavy-Fermion Metals Near a Quantum Critical Point

Abstract

The behavior of the electronic system of heavy fermion metals is considered. We show that there exist at least two main types of the behavior when the system is nearby a quantum critical point which can be identified as the fermion condensation quantum phase transition (FCQPT). We show that the first type is represented by the behavior of a highly correlated Fermi-liquid, while the second type is depicted by the behavior of a strongly correlated Fermi-liquid. If the system approaches FCQPT from the disordered phase, it can be viewed as a highly correlated Fermi-liquid which at low temperatures exhibits the behavior of Landau Fermi liquid (LFL). At higher temperatures $T$, it demonstrates the non-Fermi liquid (NFL) behavior which can be converted into the LFL behavior by the application of magnetic fields $B$. If the system has undergone FCQPT, it can be considered as a strongly correlated Fermi-liquid which demonstrates the NFL behavior even at low temperatures. It can be turned into LFL by applying magnetic fields $B$. We show that the effective mass $M^*$ diverges at the very point that the N\'eel temperature goes to zero. The $B-T$ phase diagrams of both liquids are studied. We demonstrate that these $B-T$ phase diagrams have a strong impact on the main properties of heavy-fermion metals such as the magnetoresistance, resistivity, specific heat, magnetization, volume thermal expansion, etc.Comment: Revtex, 11 pages, revised and accepted by JETP Let