A theoretical study of magnetic field (h) effects on single-particle spectra and the transport quantities of heavy fermion metals in the paramagnetic phase is carried out. We have employed a non-perturbative local moment approach (LMA) to the asymmetric periodic Anderson model within the dynamical mean field framework. The lattice coherence scale ω_L, which is proportional within the LMA to the spin-flip energy scale, and has been shown in earlier studies to be the energy scale at which crossover to single-impurity physics occurs, increases monotonically with increasing magnetic field. The many body Kondo resonance in the density of states at the Fermi level splits into two, with the splitting being proportional to the field itself. For h≥0, we demonstrate adiabatic continuity from the strongly interacting case to a corresponding non-interacting limit, thus establishing Fermi liquid behaviour for heavy fermion metals in the presence of a magnetic field. In the Kondo lattice regime, the theoretically computed magnetoresistance is found to be negative in the entire temperature range. We argue that such a result could be understood at by field-induced suppression of spin-flip scattering and at through lattice coherence. The coherence peak in the heavy fermion resistivity diminishes and moves to higher temperatures with increasing field. Direct comparison of the theoretical results to the field dependent resistivity measurements in CeB₆ yields good agreement.

72.15.Gd Galvanomagnetic and other magnetotransport effects

71.27.+a Strongly correlated electron systems; heavy fermions

72.15.Qm Scattering mechanisms and Kondo effect

75.20.Hr Local moment in compounds and alloys; Kondo effect, valence fluctuations, heavy fermions

Condensed matter: electrical, magnetic and optical

Issue 40 ( 7 October 2009)

Received 14 July 2009 , in final form 21 August 2009

Published 14 September 2009