The contemporary studies of the Kondo effect and heavy-fermion materials occur at the intersection of some of the most important phenomena in quantum condensed matter physics. First, they represent quantum magnetism in between the limits of local-moment and itinerant magnetism. Electronic systems in this intermediate regime are particularly tunable. Correspondingly, heavy fermions have emerged as a promising setting to study the physics of quantum phase transitions and unconventional superconductivity, which are relevant to a broad class of correlated quantum materials. Second, heavy-fermion materials typically contain heavy elements, and there is an increasing recognition that their substantial spin-orbit coupling leads to new physics and correlated topological states. Third, the interplay between the localized and itinerant electrons connects the heavy-fermion systems to transition-metal compounds at the border of localization and itinerancy. Finally, the Kondo effect can also be studied in engineered materials, which are especially suitable for studying non-equilibrium physics. Research in the interconnected areas will contribute to the design and understanding of advanced materials that may impact on future technologies in energy, information and medicine. The workshop brought together top experts in these areas. It provided perspective about the existing research, and discussed the future directions of this exciting subject.
This workshop was held from December 9 - 11, 2013, at Rice University.