We consider a one-dimensional multiorbital Kondo lattice model and show that by tuning the kinetic energy of the itinerant electrons, it is possible to stabilize Kondo insulators with nontrivial spin physics. In particular, depending on the size of the exchange coupling between the local moments, we find kinetic-energy-driven transitions between a featureless Kondo insulator and a valence-bond solid or a gapless spin liquid. We also provide evidence for an unconventional continuous phase transition between two featureless Kondo insulators distinguished by their quantum numbers under reflection symmetry. At the corresponding critical point, the system is compressible, exhibits algebraic spiral spin correlations, and shows infrared behavior that is not captured by the standard conformal field theory framework.

Close

PrevNext

View figure in article

• Quantum criticality
• Quantum spin liquid
• Heavy-fermion systems
• Strongly correlated systems
• Kondo lattice model
• Tensor network methods