Critical theory of the two-channel Anderson impurity model

Abstract

We construct the boundary conformal field theory that describes the low-temperature behavior of the two-channel Anderson impurity model. The presence of an exactly marginal operator is shown to generate a line of stable fixed points parameterized by the charge valence of the impurity. We calculate the exact zero-temperature entropy and impurity thermodynamics along the fixed line. We also derive the critical exponents of the characteristic Fermi edge singularities caused by time-dependent hybridization between conduction electrons and impurity. Our results suggest that in the mixed-valent regime the electrons participate in two competing processes, leading to frustrated screening of spin and channel degrees of freedom. By combining the boundary conformal field theory with the Bethe Ansatz solution we obtain a complete description of the low-energy dynamics of the model.