Aline Ramires, Department of Physics, Rutgers University. Professor Eun-Ah Kim, host.

Seminar title: Heavy Fermions: From Nodal Metals to Super-Spins

Abstract: Heavy fermion systems are prototype materials for the study of strongly correlated systems. These systems have in their composition very localized orbitals, and as a consequence very strong Coulomb repulsion. In my talk I will introduce the main concepts needed for the understanding of these materials and highlight some of the open questions and how these motivate my current work. I will then discuss two projects: the first concerns the development of a theory for the understanding of the intrinsically quantum critical heavy fermion beta-YbAlB4; and the second involves the use of supersymmetric spins to describe the generic phase diagram and quantum critical properties of heavy fermions within a single approach.