Possible Kondo effect in the iron arsenides

The normal state of the iron arsenides shows the poor metallic behavior mixed with strong magnetic fluctuations. In particular, some FeAs-1111 and FeAs-122 compounds show the linear-T dependence of susceptibility above the spin-density wave (SDW) transition and the logarithmic upturn of resistivity at low temperatures. We suggest that this is due to the spin-flip scattering between the charge carriers and the local moments in the undoped FeAs layer where Kondo effect coexists with the SDW. This scenario is also accounted for the change of the magnetoresistance from positive to negative in the Sr3Sc2O5Fe2As2 compound.