Dr. Mihael Grbić: Complex phase diagram of the heavy-fermion compound α-YbAlB4
Povzetek:
Complex phase diagram of the heavy-fermion compound α-YbAlB4
Dr. Mihael Grbić
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, Zagreb, Croatia
Valence fluctuations (VF) between magnetic and non-magnetic ionic configurations are considered as an anathema to quantum criticality (QC) in f-electron intermetallics. Conventionally, QC emerges by tuning Kondo screening of the local moment. There, VF are essential - high energy of the fluctuating charge requires application of large magnetic fields or pressures. Here we show that in the α-YbAlB4, QC behavior surprisingly appears at low magnetic field and in the vicinity of a Lifshitz transition, with a QC endpoint located below 0 K. This phenomenon is significant for understanding other valence-fluctuating correlated-electron materials, such as topological Kondo insulators.
