Conductance of nano-systems with interactions coupled via conduction electrons: effect of indirect exchange interactions

A nano-system in which electrons interact and in contact with Fermi leads gives rise to an effective one-body scattering which depends on the presence of other scatterers in the attached leads. This non local effect is a pure many-body effect that one neglects when one takes non interacting models for describing quantum transport. This enhances the non-local character of the quantum conductance by exchange interactions of a type similar to the RKKY-interaction between local magnetic moments. A theoretical study of this effect is given assuming the Hartree-Fock approximation for spinless fermions of Fermi momentum k_F in an infinite chain embedding two scatterers separated by a segment of length L_c. The fermions interact only inside the two scatterers. The dependence of one scatterer onto the other exhibits oscillations of period π/k_F which decay as 1/L_c and which are suppressed when L_c exceeds the thermal length L_T. The analytical results given by the Hartree-Fock approximation are compared with exact numerical results obtained with the embedding method and the DMRG algorithm.     

Effect of flux-dependent Friedel oscillations upon the effective transmission of an interacting nano-system

We consider a nano-system connected to measurement probes via non interacting leads. When the electrons interact inside the nano-system, the coefficient |t_s(E_F)|² describing its effective transmission at the Fermi energy E_F ceases to be local. This effect of electron-electron interactions upon |t_s(E_F)|² is studied using a one dimensional model of spinless fermions and the Hartree-Fock approximation. The non locality of |t_s(E_F)|² is due to the coupling between the Hartree and Fock corrections inside the nano-system and the scatterers outside the nano-system via long range Friedel oscillations. Using this phenomenon, one can vary |t_s(E_F)|² by an Aharonov-Bohm flux threading a ring which is attached to one lead at a distance L_c from the nano-system. For small distances L_c, the variation of the quantum conductance induced by this non local effect can exceed 0.1 (e²/h).     

Decomposition of the Fock space in two-dimensional triangle and honeycomb lattice systems

We consider the symmetry group inherent in two-dimensional triangle and honeycomb lattice systems. We find analytically and numerically the character of the reducible representation for the corresponding Fock space. Using the irreducible characters and the reducible character of the representation, we decompose the Fock space explicitly. For example, we calculate the multiplicity of each irreducible representation contained in the Fock space.     

Thermodynamic properties of the spin-1/2 antiferromagnetic ladder under magnetic field

Specific heat (C_V) measurements in the spin-1/2 Cu₂(C₂H₁₂N₂)₂Cl₄ system under a magnetic field up to H =8.25 T are reported and compared to the results of numerical calculations based on the 2-leg antiferromagnetic Heisenberg ladder. While the temperature dependences of both the susceptibility and the low-field specific heat are accurately reproduced by this model, deviations are observed above the critical field H_C1 at which the spin gap closes. In this Quantum High Field phase, the contribution of the low-energy quantum fluctuations are stronger than in the Heisenberg ladder model. We argue that this enhancement can be attributed to dynamical lattice fluctuations. Finally, we show that such a Heisenberg ladder, for H > H C1, is unstable, when coupled to the 3D lattice, against a lattice distortion. These results provide an alternative explanation for the observed low temperature ( K-0.8 K) phase (previously interpreted as a 3D magnetic ordering) as a new type of incommensurate gapped state. Received: 23 July 1998 / Accepted: 24 August 1998     

Off-diagonal long-range order in a supersymmetric integrable model of correlated electrons

A new model for correlated electrons is presented which is integrable in one-dimension. The symmetry algebra of the model is the Lie superalgebra gl(2|1) which depends on a continuous free parameter. This symmetry algebra contains the pairing algebra as a subalgebra which is used to show that the model exhibits Off-Diagonal Long-Range Order in any number of dimensions. Received: 9 December 1997 / Revised: 12 February 1998 / Accepted: 17 March 1998     

Long-range spin-pairing order and spin defects in quantum spin- $${1 \over 2}$$ ladders

For w-legged antiferromagnetic spin-1/2 Heisenberg ladders, a long-range spin pairing order can be identified which enables the separation of the space spanned by finite-range (covalent) valence-bond configurations into w +1 subspaces. Since every subspace has an equivalent counter subspace connected by translational symmetry, twofold degeneracy, breaking translational symmetry is found except for the subspace where the ground state of w = even belongs to. In terms of energy ordering, (non)degeneracy and the discontinuities introduced in the long-range spin pairing order by topological spin defects, the differences between even and odd ladders are explained in a general and systematic way. Received 19 July 1999 and Received in final form 8 October 1999     

Construction of localized basis for dynamical mean field theory

Many-body Hamiltonians obtained from first principles generally include all possible non-local interactions. But in dynamical mean field theory the non-local interactions are ignored, and only the effects of the local interactions are taken into account. The truncation of the non-local interactions is a basis dependent approximation. We propose a criterion to construct an appropriate localized basis in which the truncation can be carried out. This involves finding a basis in which a functional given by the sum of the squares of the local interactions with appropriate weight factors is maximized under unitary transformations of basis. We argue that such a localized basis is suitable for the application of dynamical mean field theory for calculating material properties from first principles. We propose an algorithm which can be used for constructing the localized basis. We test our criterion on a toy model and find it satisfactory.     

Correlations of conductance peaks and transmission phases in deformed quantum dots

We investigate the Coulomb blockade resonances and the phase of the transmission amplitude of a deformed ballistic quantum dot weakly coupled to leads. We show that preferred single-particle levels exist which stay close to the Fermi energy for a wide range of values of the gate voltage. These states give rise to sequences of Coulomb blockade resonances with correlated peak heights and transmission phases. The correlation of the peak heights becomes stronger with increasing temperature. The phase of the transmission amplitude shows lapses by between the resonances. Implications for recent experiments on ballistic quantum dots are discussed. Received 17 July 1998     

Two-parameter extended Hubbard Hamiltonian with supersymmetry

We investigate under which circumstances extended Hubbard models, including bond-charge, exchange, and pair-hopping terms, are invariant under gl (2,1) superalgebra. This happens for a two-parameter Hamiltonian which includes as particular cases the t - J, the EKS and the one-parameter BGLZ Hamiltonians, all integrable in one dimension. We show that the two parameter Hamiltonian can be recasted as the sum of the BGLZ Hamiltonian plus the graded permutation operator of electronic states on neighbouring sites. The integrability of the corresponding one-dimensional model is discussed. Received: 17 February 1998 / Received in final form: 6 March 1998 / Accepted: 17 April 1998     

The semiconductor-to-ferromagnetic-metal transition in FeSb2

We propose FeSb₂ to be a nearly ferromagnetic small gap semiconductor, hence a direct analog of FeSi. We find that despite different compositions and crystal structures, in the local density approximation with on-site Coulomb repulsion correction (LDA+U) method magnetic and semiconducting solutions for U=2.6 eV are energetically degenerate similar to the case of FeSi. For both FeSb₂ and FeSi (FeSi_1-xGe_x alloys) the underlying transition mechanism allows one to switch from a small gap semiconductor to a ferromagnetic metal with magnetic moment ≈1 μ_B per Fe ion with external magnetic field.     

Localization properties of two interacting particles in a quasi-periodic potential with a metal-insulator transition

We study the influence of many-particle interactions on a metal-insulator transition. We consider the two-interacting-particle problem for onsite interacting particles on a one-dimensional quasiperiodic chain, the so-called Aubry-André model. We show numerically by the decimation method and finite-size scaling that the interaction does not modify the critical parameters such as the transition point and the localization-length exponent. We compare our results to the case of finite density systems studied by means of the density-matrix renormalization scheme. Received 28 June 2001     

Magnetic structures and crystal field in the heavy electron materials YbAgGe and YbPtIn

We have examined the magnetic properties of the heavy electron compounds YbAgGe and YbPtIn by ¹⁷⁰Yb M?ssbauer spectroscopy down to 0.1 K, and the crystal field properties of YbAgGe by Perturbed Angular Correlations (PAC) measurements up to 900 K. In YbAgGe, we show that each of the two magnetically ordered phases below 0.8 K involves a specific incommensurate modulation of the Yb moment. An analysis of existing low temperature specific heat data suggests the persistence of fluctuations of the correlated Yb spins down to 0.1 K. The PAC data allow to discriminate among proposed Yb³⁺ crystal field level schemes. In YbPtIn, we show that the low temperature magnetic order phase has an antiferro-para structure, where zero moment Yb ions coexist with large moment ones, and that a 90° moment reorientation occurs at 1.4 K.     

Coulomb correlations do not fill the e<Superscript>′</Superscript><Subscript>g</Subscript> hole pockets in Na<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>CoO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

There exists presently considerable debate over the question whether local Coulomb interactions can explain the absence of the small e^′ _g Fermi surface hole pockets in photoemission studies of Na_0.3CoO₂. By comparing dynamical mean field results for different single particle Hamiltonians and exact diagonalization as well as quantum Monte Carlo treatments, we show that, for realistic values of the Coulomb energy U and Hund exchange J, the e^′ _g pockets can be slightly enhanced or reduced compared to band structure predictions, but they do not disappear.     

Calculation of photoemission spectra of the doped Mott insulator using LDA+DMFT(QMC)

The spectral properties of La_1–xSr_xTiO₃, a doped Mott insulator with strong Coulomb correlations, are calculated with the ab initio computational scheme LDA+DMFT(QMC). It starts from the non-interacting electronic band structure as calculated by the local density approximation (LDA), and introduces the missing correlations by the dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT), using numerically exact quantum Monte-Carlo (QMC) techniques to solve the resulting self-consistent multi-band single-impurity problem. The results of the LDA+DMFT(QMC) approach for the photoemission spectra of La_1–xSr_xTiO₃ are in good agreement with experiment and represent a considerable qualitative and quantitative improvement on standard LDA calculations. Received 20 May 2000 and Received in final form 27 July 2000     

Role of the d-f Coulomb interaction in intermediate valence and Kondo systems: a numerical renormalization group study

Using the numerical renormalization group method, the dependences on temperature of the magnetic susceptibility χ(T) and specific heat C(T) are obtained for the single-impurity Anderson model with inclusion of d-f the Coulomb interaction. It is shown that the exciton effects caused by this effect (charge fluctuations) can significantly change the behaviour of C(T) in comparison with the standard Anderson model at moderately low temperatures, whereas the behaviour of χ(T) remains nearly universal. The ground-state and temperature-dependent renormalizations of the effective hybridization parameter and f-level position caused by the d-f interaction are calculated, and satisfactory agreement with the Hartree-Fock approximation is derived.     

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.