Spin, charge and quasi-particle gaps in the one-dimensional Kondo lattice with f² configuration

The ground state properties of the one-dimensional Kondo lattice with an f² configuration at each site are studied by the density matrix renormalization group method. At half-filling, competition between the Kondo exchange J and the antiferromagnetic intra f-shell exchange I leads to reduction of energy gaps for spin, quasi-particle and charge excitations. The attractive force among conduction electrons is induced by the competition and the bound state is formed. As J/I increases the f² singlet gives way to the Kondo singlet as the dominant local correlation. The remarkable change of the quasi-particle gap is driven by the change of the spin-1/2 excitation character from the itinerant one to the localized one. Possible metal-insulator transition is discussed which may occur as the ratio J/I is varied by reference to mean-field results in the f² lattice system and the two impurity Kondo system.