Segregation in the Falicov--Kimball Model

The Falicov–Kimball model is a simple quantum lattice model that describes light and heavy electrons interacting with an on-site repulsion; alternatively, it is a model of itinerant electrons and fixed nuclei. It can be seen as a simplification of the Hubbard model; by neglecting the kinetic (hopping) energy of the spin up particles, one gets the Falicov–Kimball model. We show that away from half-filling, i.e. if the sum of the densities of both kinds of particles differs from 1, the particles segregate at zero temperature and for large enough repulsion. In the language of the Hubbard model, this means creating two regions with a positive and a negative magnetization. Our key mathematical results are lower and upper bounds for the sum of the lowest eigenvalues of the discrete Laplace operator in an arbitrary domain, with Dirichlet boundary conditions. The lower bound consists of a bulk term, independent of the shape of the domain, and of a term proportional to the boundary. Therefore, one lowers the kinetic energy of the itinerant particles by choosing a domain with a small boundary. For the Falicov- Kimball model, this corresponds to having a single “compact” domain that has no heavy particles. Received: 21 June 2001 / Accepted: 4 January 2002     

Segregation in the Asymmetric Hubbard Model

We study the “asymmetric” Hubbard model, where hoppings of electrons depend on their spin. For strong interactions and sufficiently asymmetric hoppings, it is proved that the ground state displays phase separation away from half-filling. This extends a recent result obtained with Freericks and Lieb for the Falicov–Kimball model. It is based on estimates for the sum of lowest eigenvalues of the discrete Laplacian in arbitrary domains.     

Hund’s Rule and Metallic Ferromagnetism

We study tight-binding models of itinerant electrons in two different bands, with effective on-site interactions expressing Coulomb repulsion and Hunds rule. We prove that, for sufficiently large on-site exchange anisotropy, all ground states show metallic ferromagnetism: They exhibit a macroscopic magnetization, a macroscopic fraction of the electrons is spatially delocalized, and there is no energy gap for kinetic excitations.     

Spatial Random Permutations and Infinite Cycles

We consider systems of spatial random permutations, where permutations are weighed according to the point locations. Infinite cycles are present at high densities. The critical density is given by an exact expression. We discuss the relation between the model of spatial permutations and the ideal and interacting quantum Bose gas.     

Dissipative Transport: Thermal Contacts and Tunnelling Junctions

The general theory of simple transport processes between quantum mechanical reservoirs is reviewed and extended. We focus on thermoelectric phenomena, involving exchange of energy and particles. The theory is illustrated on the example of two reservoirs of free fermions coupled through a local interaction. We construct a stationary state and determine energy and particle currents with the help of a convergent perturbation series. We explicitly calculate several interesting quantities to lowest order, such as the entropy production rate, the resistance, and the heat conductivity. Convergence of the perturbation series allows us to prove that they are strictly positive under suitable smallness and regularity assumptions on the interaction between the reservoirs. Communicated by Gian Michele Graf submitted 15/01/03, accepted: 25/02/03     

Ground states and flux configurations of the two-dimensional Falicov-Kimball model

The Falicov-Kimball model is a lattice model of itinerant spinless fermions (electrons) interacting by an on-site potential with classical particles (ions). We continue the investigations of the crystalline ground states that appear for various filling of electrons and ions for large coupling. We investigate the model for square as well as triangular lattices. New ground states are found and the effects of a magnetic flux on the structure of the phase diagram are studied. The flux phase problem where one has to find the optimal flux configurations and the nuclei configurations is also solved in some cases. Finally we consider a model where the fermions are replaced by hard-core bosons. This model also has crystalline ground states. Therefore their existence does not require the Pauli principle, but only the on-site hard-core constraint for the itinerant particles.     

Phase separation due to quantum mechanical correlations

Can phase separation be induced by strong electron correlations? We present a theorem that affirmatively answers this question in the Falicov-Kimball model away from half filling, for any dimension. In the ground state the itinerant electrons are spatially separated from the classical particles.     

Spatial random permutations with small cycle weights

We consider the distribution of cycles in two models of random permutations, that are related to one another. In the first model, cycles receive a weight that depends on their length. The second model deals with permutations of points in the space and there is an additional weight that involves the length of permutation jumps. We prove the occurrence of infinite macroscopic cycles above a certain critical density.     

Lattice Permutations and Poisson-Dirichlet Distribution of Cycle Lengths

We study random spatial permutations on ℤ³ where each jump x↦π(x) is penalized by a factor e^{-T|| x-p(x)||2}\mathrm{e}^{-T\| x-\pi (x)\|^{2}}. The system is known to exhibit a phase transition for low enough T where macroscopic cycles appear. We observe that the lengths of such cycles are distributed according to Poisson-Dirichlet. This can be explained heuristically using a stochastic coagulation-fragmentation process for long cycles, which is supported by numerical data.