Damping of zero sound in Luttinger liquids

We calculate the damping γ_q of collective density oscillations (zero sound) in a one-dimensional Fermi gas with dimensionless forward scattering interaction F and quadratic energy dispersion k² / 2 m at zero temperature. Using standard many-body perturbation theory, we obtain γ_q from the expansion of the inverse irreducible polarization to first order in the effective screened (RPA) interaction. For wave-vectors | q| /k_F ≪F (where k_F = m v_F is the Fermi wave-vector) we find to leading order γ_q ∝| q |³ /(v_F m²). On the other hand, for F ≪| q| /k_F most of the spectral weight is carried by the particle-hole continuum, which is distributed over a frequency interval of the order of q²/m. We also show that zero sound damping leads to a finite maximum proportional to |k - k_F | ^{-2 + 2 η} of the charge peak in the single-particle spectral function, where η is the anomalous dimension. Our prediction agrees with photoemission data for the blue bronze K_0.3MoO₃. We comment on other recent calculations of γ_q.     

Charge density waves and bond order waves in a quarter filled extended Hubbard ladder

We investigate the phase diagram of a quarter filled Hubbard ladder with nearest-neighbor Coulomb repulsion using bosonization and renormalization group approach. Focusing on the strong-repulsion regime, we discuss the effect of an interchain exchange interaction J and interchain repulsion V on the possible ground states of the system and charge order configurations. Since the spin excitations always possess a gap, we find competing bond-order wave and charge density wave phases as possible ground states of the ladder model. We discuss the elementary excitations in these various phases and point an analogy between the excitations on some of these phases and those of a Kondo-Heisenberg insulator. We also study the order of the quantum phase transitions between the different ground states of the system. We obtain second order transitions in the Ising or SU(2)₂ universality class or first order transitions. We map the complete phase diagram in the J –V plane by integrating perturbative renormalization-group equations. Finally, we discuss the effect of doping away from half-filling and the effect of an applied magnetic field.     

Semiconductor quantum dots in high magnetic fields

We review and extend the composite fermion theory for semiconductor quantum dots in high magnetic fields. The mean-field model of composite fermions is unsatisfactory for the qualitative physics at high angular momenta. Extensive numerical calculations demonstrate that the microscopic CF theory, which incorporates interactions between composite fermions, provides an excellent qualitative and quantitative account of the quantum dot ground state down to the largest angular momenta studied, and allows systematic improvements by inclusion of mixing between composite fermion Landau levels (called Λ levels).     

Spin 3/2 fermions with attractive interactions in a one-dimensional optical lattice: phase diagrams,entanglement entropy,and the effect of the trap

We study spin 3/2 fermionic cold atoms with attractive interactions confined in a one-dimensional optical lattice. Using numerical techniques, we determine the phase diagram for a generic density. For the chosen parameters, one-particle excitations are gapped and the phase diagram is separated into two regions: one where the two-particle excitation gap is zero, and one where it is finite. In the first region, the two-body pairing fluctuations (BCS) compete with the density ones. In the other one, a molecular superfluid (MS) phase, in which bound-states of four particles form, competes with the density fluctuations. The properties of the transition line between these two regions is studied through the behavior of the entanglement entropy. The physical features of the various phases, comprising leading correlations, Friedel oscillations, and excitation spectra, are presented. To make the connection with experiments, the effect of a harmonic trap is taken into account. In particular, we emphasize the conditions under which the appealing MS phase can be realized, and how the phases could be probed by using the density profiles and the associated structure factor. Lastly, the consequences on the flux quantization of the different nature of the pairing in the BCS and MS phases are studied in a situation where the condensate is in a ring geometry.     

General spectral function expressions of a 1D correlated model

We introduce a method that allows the evaluation of general expressions for the spectral functions of the one-dimensional Hubbard model for all values of the on-site electronic repulsion U. The spectral weights are expressed in terms of pseudofermion operators such that the spectral functions can be written as a convolution of pseudofermion dynamical correlation functions. Our results are valid for all finite energy and momentum values and are used elsewhere in the study of the unusual finite-energy properties of quasi-one-dimensional compounds and the new quantum systems of ultra-cold fermionic atoms on an optical lattice.     

Analytical approach to the quantum-phase transition in the one-dimensional spinless Holstein model

We study the one-dimensional Holstein model of spinless fermions interacting with dispersion-less phonons by using a recently developed projector-based renormalization method (PRM). At half-filling the system shows a metal-insulator transition to a Peierls distorted state at a critical electron-phonon coupling where both phases are described within the same theoretical framework. The transition is accompanied by a phonon softening at the Brillouin zone boundary and a gap in the electronic spectrum. For different filling, the phonon softening appears away from the Brillouin zone boundary and thus reflects a different type of broken symmetry state.     

Ground states of an extended Falicov-Kimball model

We present a non-perturbative study of an extended Falicov-Kimball model in one dimension. Working within the binary alloy interpretation, we include the spin of the itinerant electrons and a Hubbard interaction to model the inter-electron correlations. We derive an effective Ising model for the atomic configuration in order to show how the Hubbard term affects the stability of the phase separated states. Furthermore, we investigate the competition between the Mott insulator state of the itinerant electrons and the checkerboard phase of the spinless Falicov-Kimball model.     

Linear and nonlinear transport across carbon nanotube quantum dots

We present a low energy-theory for non-linear transport in finite-size interacting single-wall carbon nanotubes. It is based on a microscopic model for the interacting p_z electrons and successive bosonization. We consider weak coupling to the leads and derive equations of motion for the reduced density matrix. We focus on the case of large-diameter nanotubes where exchange effects can be neglected. In this situation the energy spectrum is highly degenerate. Due to the multiple degeneracy, diagonal as well as off-diagonal (coherences) elements of the density matrix contribute to the nonlinear transport. At low bias, a four-electron periodicity with a characteristic ratio between adjacent peaks is predicted. Our results are in quantitative agreement with recent experiments.     

Renormalized quasiparticles in antiferromagnetic states of the Hubbard model

We analyze the properties of the quasiparticle excitations of metallic antiferromagnetic states in a strongly correlated electron system. The study is based on dynamical mean field theory (DMFT) for the infinite dimensional Hubbard model with antiferromagnetic symmetry breaking. Self-consistent solutions of the DMFT equations are calculated using the numerical renormalization group (NRG). The low energy behavior in these results is then analyzed in terms of renormalized quasiparticles. The parameters for these quasiparticles are calculated directly from the NRG derived self-energy, and also from the low energy fixed point of the effective impurity model. From these the quasiparticle weight and the effective mass are deduced. We show that the main low energy features of the k-resolved spectral density can be understood in terms of the quasiparticle picture. We also find that Luttinger's theorem is satisfied for the total electron number in the doped antiferromagnetic state.     

Breakdown of Luttinger's theorem in two-orbital Mott insulators

An analysis of Luttinger's theorem shows that – contrary to recent claims – it is not valid for a generic Mott insulator. For a two-orbital Hubbard model with two electrons per site the crossover from a non-magnetic correlated insulating phase (Mott or Kondo insulator) to a band insulator is investigated. Mott insulating phases are characterized by poles of the self-energy and corresponding zeros in the Greens functions defining a “Luttinger surface” which is absent for band insulators. Nevertheless, the ground states of such insulators with two electrons per unit cell are adiabatically connected.     

Tails of the dynamical structure factor of 1D spinless fermions beyond the Tomonaga approximation

We consider one-dimensional (1D) interacting spinless fermions with a non-linear spectrum in a clean quantum wire (non-linear bosonization). We compute diagrammatically the 1D dynamical structure factor, S(ω,q), beyond the Tomonaga approximation focusing on it's tails, |ω| ≫vq, i.e. the 2-pair excitation continuum due to forward scattering. Our methodology reveals three classes of diagrams: two “chiral” classes which bring divergent contributions in the limits ω→±vq, i.e. near the single-pair excitation continuum, and a “mixed” class (so-called Aslamasov-Larkin or Altshuler-Shklovskii type diagrams) which is crucial for the f-sum rule to be satisfied. We relate our approach to the T=0 ones present in the literature. We also consider the case and show that the 2-pair excitation continuum dominates the single-pair one in the range: |q|T/k_F ≪ω±vq ≪T (substantial for q ≪k_F). As applications we first derive the small-momentum optical conductivity due to forward scattering: σ∼1/ω for T ≪ω and σ∼T/ω² for T ≫ω. Next, within the 2-pair excitation continuum, we show that the attenuation rate of a coherent mode of dispersion Ω_q crosses over from , e.g. γ_q ∼|q|³ for an acoustic mode, to , independent of Ω_q, as temperature increases. Finally, we show that the 2-pair excitation continuum yields subleading curvature corrections to the electron-electron scattering rate: , where V is the dimensionless strength of the interaction.     

Role of the attractive intersite interaction in the extended Hubbard model

We consider the extended Hubbard model in the atomic limit on a Bethe lattice with coordination number z. By using the equations of motion formalism, the model is exactly solved for both attractive and repulsive intersite potential V. By focusing on the case of negative V, i.e., attractive intersite interaction, we study the phase diagram at finite temperature and find, for various values of the filling and of the on-site coupling U, a phase transition towards a state with phase separation. We determine the critical temperature as a function of the relevant parameters, U/|V|, n and z and we find a reentrant behavior in the plane (U/|V|, T). Finally, several thermodynamic properties are investigated near criticality.     

Ground state properties of an asymmetric Hubbard model for unbalanced ultracold fermionic quantum gases

In order to describe unbalanced ultracold fermionic quantum gases on optical lattices in a harmonic trap, we investigate an attractive (U < 0) asymmetric (t_↑≠t_↓) Hubbard model with a Zeeman-like magnetic field. In view of the model's spatial inhomogeneity, we focus in this paper on the solution at Hartree-Fock level. The Hartree-Fock Hamiltonian is diagonalized with particular emphasis on superfluid phases. For the special case of spin-independent hopping we analytically determine the number of solutions of the resulting self-consistency equations and the nature of the possible ground states at weak coupling. We present the phase diagram of the homogeneous system and numerical results for unbalanced Fermi-mixtures obtained within the local density approximation. In particular, we find a fascinating shell structure, involving normal and superfluid phases. For the general case of spin-dependent hopping we calculate the density of states and the possible superfluid phases in the ground state. In particular, we find a new magnetized superfluid phase.     

Near-Tc second-harmonic emission in high-density bulk MgB2 at microwave frequency

We discuss the microwave second-harmonic generation in high-density bulk MgB₂, prepared by the reactive liquid Mg infiltration technology. The intensity of the harmonic signal has been investigated as a function of temperature and amplitudes of the DC and microwave magnetic fields. The results are discussed in the framework of a phenomenological theory, based on the two-fluid model, which assumes that both the microwave and static magnetic fields, penetrating in the surface layers of the sample, weakly perturb the partial concentrations of the normal and superconducting fluids. We show that, in order to account for the experimental results, it is essential to suppose that in MgB₂ the densities of the normal and condensed fluids linearly depend on the temperature.     

Single hole dynamics in the one-dimensional - model

We present a new finite-temperature quantum Monte Carlo algorithm to compute imaginary-time Green functions for a single hole in the t-J model on non-frustrated lattices. Spectral functions are obtained with the Maximum Entropy method. Simulations of the one-dimensional case show that a simple charge-spin separation Ansatz is able to describe the overall features of the spectral function such as the bandwidth and the compact support of the spectral function, over the whole energy range for values of J / t from 1/3 to 4. This is contrasted with the two-dimensional case. The quasiparticle weight Z_k is computed on lattices up to L =128 sites in one dimension, and scales as . Received 15 February 2000     

Thomas-Fermi model for quasi one-dimensional finite crystals

The model presented here applies a self-consistent method to electrons in crystals, thus enabling the calculation of the effective inner potential field. For this purpose, a Thomas-Fermi (TF) type model was developed, using a “qausi” one-dimensional finite crystal—a set of equidistant infinite thin plates representing the ionic planes, spread perpendicularly to a length axis. The model is applied to a finite crystal with no external fields. This application of a “multi-centered” TF model to an entire crystal is carried out for the first time in this work; the TF model was widely used in the past for atomic and molecular calculations, but in crystals it was limited to local use such as impurities. Poisson's (non-linear) differential equation describing the problem is solved using the highly efficient Relaxation Method. A pattern of almost periodical peaks (except near the boundaries) residing at the ionic sites is obtained for the potential, as well as for the electronic local density (indicating the electrons' tendency to pack mainly near the ions).     

Density-functional theory of inhomogeneous electron systems in thin quantum wires

Motivated by current interest in strongly correlated quasi-one-dimensional (1D) Luttinger liquids subject to axial confinement, we present a novel density-functional study of few-electron systems confined by power-low external potentials inside a short portion of a thin quantum wire. The theory employs the 1D homogeneous Coulomb liquid as the reference system for a Kohn-Sham treatment and transfers the Luttinger ground-state correlations to the inhomogeneous electron system by means of a suitable local-density approximation (LDA) to the exchange-correlation energy functional. We show that such 1D-adapted LDA is appropriate for fluid-like states at weak coupling, but fails to account for the transition to a “Wigner molecules” regime of electron localization as observed in thin quantum wires at very strong coupling. A detailed analyzes is given for the two-electron problem under axial harmonic confinement.     

Thermal evolution of hole dynamics in the large-dimensional model

The dynamics of a single hole in the t - J model is solved exactly for all temperature, T, in the limit of large spatial dimensions, , using the Feenberg renormalized perturbation series. We focus in particular on single-particle spectra, together with optical and static hole conductivities. Explicit results are illustrated for a Bethe lattice, and exemplify the continuous thermal evolution of the underlying string picture from the T =0 string-pinned limit through to the paramagnetic phase. Quenched site-disorder is also readily incorporated, exact results thereby being obtained for the interplay between disorder and thermally-induced hole dynamics. Received 16 September 1998     

Valence transition in the periodic Anderson model

A very rich phase diagram has recently been found in CeCu₂Si₂ from high pressure experiments where, in particular, a transition between an intermediate valence configuration and an integral valent heavy fermion state has been observed. We show that such a valence transition can be understood in the framework of the periodic Anderson model. In particular, our results show a breakdown of a mixed-valence state which is accompanied by a drastic change in the f occupation in agreement with experiment. This valence transition can possibly be interpreted as a collapse of the large Fermi surface of the heavy fermion state which incorporates not only the conduction electrons but also the localized f electrons. The theoretical approach used in this paper is based on the novel projector-based renormalization method (PRM). With respect to the periodic Anderson model, the method was before only employed in combination with the basic approximations of the well-known slave-boson mean-field theory. In this paper, the PRM treatment is performed in a more sophisticated manner where both mixed as well as integral valent solutions have been obtained. Furthermore, we argue that the presented PRM approach might be a promising starting point to study the competing interactions in CeCu₂Si₂ and related compounds.