Local-moment formation in gapless Fermi systems

Abstract

Perturbative scaling is applied to the Anderson model for a localized level coupled to a Fermi system in which the density of states varies like $|E|^r$ near the Fermi energy ($E=0$). This model with $r=1$ or $2$ may describe magnetic impurities in unconventional superconductors and certain semiconductors. The pseudo-gap is found to suppress mixed valence in favor of local-moment behavior. However, the magnitude of the exchange coupling $J$ in the local-moment regime is reduced, thereby decreasing the parameter range within which the impurity becomes Kondo-screened at low temperatures.