  One of the challenges in strongly correlated electron systems, is to
understand the anomalous electronic behavior that develops at an
antiferromagnetic quantum critical point (QCP), a phenomenon that has been
extensively studied in heavy fermion materials. Current theories have focused
on the critical spin fluctuations and associated break-down of the Kondo
effect. Here we argue that the abrupt change in Fermi surface volume that
accompanies heavy fermion criticality leads to critical charge fluctuations.
Using a model one dimensional Kondo lattice in which each moment is connected
to a separate conduction bath, we show a Kondo breakdown transition develops
between a heavy Fermi liquid and a gapped spin liquid via a QCP with \omega/T
scaling, which features a critical charge mode directly associated with the
break-up of Kondo singlets. We discuss the possible implications of this
emergent charge mode for experiment.
