Kondo Destruction in RKKY-Coupled Kondo Lattice and Multi-Impurity Systems

Abstract

In a Kondo lattice, the spin exchange coupling between a local spin and the conduction electrons acquires nonlocal contributions due to conduction electron scattering from surrounding local spins and the subsequent RKKY interaction. It leads to a hitherto unrecognized interference of Kondo screening and the RKKY interaction beyond the Doniach scenario. We develop a renormalization group theory for the RKKY-modified Kondo vertex. The Kondo temperature, $T_K(y)$, is suppressed in a universal way, controlled by the antiferromagnetic RKKY coupling parameter $y$. Complete spin screening ceases to exist beyond a critical RKKY strength $y_c$ even in the absence of magnetic ordering. At this breakdown point, $T_K(y)$ remains nonzero and is not defined for larger RKKY couplings, $y>y_c$. The results are in quantitative agreement with STM spectroscopy experiments on tunable two-impurity Kondo systems. The possible implications for quantum critical scenarios in heavy-fermion systems are discussed.