Kondo insulating state in CeRhSb1-xSnx as a function of carrier number and its subsequent metallization

Abstract

A quantum critical point represents an essential singularity in the phase diagram of the electron-correlated compounds. In the CeRhSb1¡xSnx system we have observed a quantum criticality at the boundary Kondo insulator-non-Fermi liquid state. In this series of compounds, CeRhSb has a Kondo insulating ground state, whereas CeRhSn exhibits a non-Landau Fermi liquid behavior. In view of different types of behavior of CeRhSb and CeRhSn, we review the results of the solution in CeRhSb1¡xSnx and discuss the effect of a quasi-continuous change of the number of conduction electrons on the gap formation in the Kondo-insulating regime, as well as on the critical behawior appearance near the quantum critical point.