Marginal Fermi liquid at magnetic quantum criticality from dimensional confinement

Abstract

Metallic quantum criticality is frequently discussed as a source for non-Fermi liquid behavior, but controlled theoretical treatments are scarce. Here we identify and study a novel magnetic quantum critical point in a two-dimensional antiferromagnet coupled to a three-dimensional environment of conduction electrons. Using sign-problem-free quantum Monte Carlo simulations and an effective field-theory analysis, we demonstrate that the quantum critical point is characterized by marginal Fermi liquid behavior. In particular, we compute the electrical resistivity for transport across the magnetic layer, which is shown to display a linear temperature dependence at criticality. Experimental realizations in Kondo heterostructures are discussed.