Variational Monte Carlo study of flat band ferromagnetism - Application to CeRh₃B₂

A new mechanism for ferromagnetism in CeRh₃B₂ is proposed on the basis of variational Monte Carlo results. In a one-dimensional Anderson lattice where each 4f electron hybridizes with a ligand orbital between neighboring Ce sites, ferromagnetism is stabilized due to a nearly flat band which is a mixture of conduction and 4f electron states. Because of the strong spin-orbit interaction in 4f electron states, and of considerable amount of hybridization in the nearly flat band, the magnetic moments from 4f and conduction electrons tend to cancel each other. The resultant ferromagnetic moment becomes smaller as compared with the local 4f moment, and the Fermi surface in the ferromagnetic ground state is hardly affected by the presence of 4f electrons. These theoretical results are consistent with experimental observations in CeRh₃B₂ by neutron scattering and dHvA effects.