Effect of magnetic field and chemical potential on the RKKY interaction in the α-T3 lattice

The interaction energy of the indirect-exchange or Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interaction between magnetic spins localized on lattice sites of the alpha-T-3 model is calculated using linear response theory. In this model, the AB-honeycomb lattice structure is supplemented with C atoms at the centers of the hexagonal lattice. This introduces a parameter alpha for the ratio of the hopping integral from hub to rim and that around the rim of the hexagonal lattice. A valley and alpha-dependent retarded Green's function matrix is used to form the susceptibility. Analytic and numerical results are obtained for undoped alpha-T-3 when the chemical potential is finite and also in the presence of an applied magnetic field. We demonstrate the anisotropy of these results when the magnetic impurities are placed on the A, B, and C sublattice sites. Additionally, a comparison of the behavior of the susceptibility of alpha-T-3 with graphene shows that there is a phase transition at alpha = 0.