Quantum critical Mott transitions in a bilayer Kondo insulator-metal model system

Abstract

A bilayer system comprising a Kondo insulator coupled to a simple metal (KI-M) is considered. Employing the framework of dynamical mean-field theory, the model system is shown to exhibit a surface of quantum critical points (QCPs) that separates a Kondo screened, Fermi liquid phase from a local moment, Mott insulating phase. The quantum critical nature of these Mott transitions is characterized by the vanishing of (a) the coherence scale on the Fermi liquid side, and (b) the Mott gap on the MI side. In contrast to the usual "large-to-small" Fermi surface (FS) QCPs in heavy-fermion systems, the bilayer KI-M system exhibits a complete FS destruction.