Quantum Phase Transitions in Models of Magnetic Impurities

Abstract

Zero temperature phase transitions not only occur in the bulk of quantum systems, but also at boundaries or impurities. We review recent work on quantum phase transitions in impurity models that are generalizations of the standard Kondo model describing the interaction of a localized magnetic moment with a metallic fermionic host. Whereas in the standard case the moment is screened for any antiferromagnetic Kondo coupling as T to 0, the common feature of all systems considered here is that Kondo screening is suppressed due to the competition with other processes. This competition can generate unstable fixed points associated with phase transitions, where the impurity properties undergo qualitative changes. In particular, we discuss the coupling to both non-trivial fermionic and bosonic baths as well as two-impurity models, and make connections to recent experiments.