Low energy scales of Kondo lattices: mean-field perspective

Abstract

A review of the low temperature properties of Kondo lattice systems is presented within the mean-field approximation, focusing on the different characteristic energy scales. The Kondo temperature, T_K, and the Fermi liquid coherence energy, T_0, are analyzed as functions of the electronic filling, the shape of the non-interacting density of states, and the concentration of magnetic moments. These two scales can vanish, corresponding to a breakdown of the Kondo effect when an external magnetic field is applied. The Kondo breakdown can also be reached by adding a superexchange term to the Kondo lattice model, which mimics the intersite magnetic correlations neglected at the mean-field level.