Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2604.18560 · Physical Review Letters

Fingerprints of Preformed Pairs in Two-Electron Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy

J. Bonča, A. Damascelli, Mona Berciu

Published Apr 17, 2026• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We use variational exact diagonalization (VED) to calculate the two-electron removal spectral weight for the Hubbard-Holstein model, starting from the ground state with two electrons on a one-dimensional chain. We argue that this spectral weight provides a valuable proxy for the intensity of 2eARPES processes. Our results show that when contrasted to the presumably larger signal due to two electrons ejected from two different pairs, the presumably weaker signal due to two electrons ejected from the same pair (i) is segregated in energy, appearing at a lower binding energy, and (ii) has a very characteristic momentum dependence, with a different symmetry than that of the signal corresponding to two electrons emitted from two different pairs. We verify that these fingerprints appear for pairs with different symmetries, and prove that they arise as a direct consequence of momentum and energy conservation, therefore they are generic for any model with electron-boson coupling that can lead to formation of electron pairs. Experimental observation of these fingerprints will confirm the existence of pairs. Moreover, the momentum dependence map allows one to distinguish whether the pairs are coherent (superconducting) or not. Finally, we argue that these considerations generalize to finite but low electron concentrations, finite temperatures, and higher dimensions.

DOI
10.1103/4c3d-1bm7

Related papers

Signature of Preformed Pairs in Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy

Klemen Kovač, Alberto Nocera, A. Damascelli +2 more

We use density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) and variational exact diagonalization (VED) to calculate the single-electron removal spectral weight for the Hubbard-Holstein model at low electron densities. Tuning the strength of the electron-phonon coupling and of the Hubbard repulsion allows us to contrast the results for a liquid of polarons versus a liquid of bipolarons. The former shows spectral weight up to the Fermi energy, as expected for a metal. The latter has a gap in its spectral weight, set by the bipolaron binding energy, although this is also a (strongly correlated) metal. This difference suggests that angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy could be used to identify liquids of pre-formed pairs. Furthermore, we show that the one-dimensional liquid of incoherent bipolarons is well approximated by a "Bose sea" of bosons that are hard-core in momentum space, occupying the momenta inside the Fermi sea but otherwise noninteracting. This new proposal for a strongly correlated many-body wave function opens the way for studying various other properties of incoherent (nonsuperconducting) liquids of preformed pairs in any dimension.

arXiv:2409.14490•Physical Review Letters•Mar 4, 2025•3 citations

Spectral function of a bipolaron coupled to dispersive optical phonons

K. Kovač, J. Bonča

Using an efficient variational exact diagonalization method, we computed the electron removal spectral function within the framework of the Holstein-Hubbard model containing two electrons with opposite spins coupled to dispersive quantum optical phonons. We focus on how the interplay between the electron-phonon coupling and on-site Coulomb repulsion shapes the spectral function, a quantity directly relevant to angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). Tuning the strengths of the electron-phonon coupling and the Hubbard interaction allows us to examine the evolution of the spectral properties of the system as it crosses over from a bound bipolaron to separate polarons. We find that phonon dispersion plays an important role: It substantially redistributes the spectral weight across the low- and the high-energy features and controls the emergence and the structure of distinct multiphonon continua. In regimes of strong electron-phonon coupling and low Coulomb repulsion, the spectral function exhibits a broad distribution reflecting bound bipolaronic states. Increasing the Coulomb repulsion weakens bipolaron binding, shifts the primary quasiparticle peak closer to polaronic behavior and confines the spectral weight near the Brillouin-zone center. Our results provide a framework for interpreting ARPES measurements in systems where phonon–mediated attraction competes with direct Coulomb repulsion.

arXiv:2410.11537•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Mar 12, 2025•2 citations

Traces of Electron-Phonon Coupling in One-Dimensional Cuprates

Ta Tang, Brian Moritz, Cheng Peng +2 more

The appearance of certain spectral features in one-dimensional (1D) cuprate materials has been attributed to a strong, extended attractive coupling between electrons. Here, using time-dependent density matrix renormalization group methods on a Hubbard-extended Holstein model, we show that extended electron-phonon ({\it e-ph}) coupling presents an obvious choice to produce such an attractive interaction that reproduces the observed spectral features and doping dependence seen in angle-resolved photoemission experiments: diminished $3k_F$ spectral weight, prominent spectral intensity of a holon-folding branch, and the correct holon band width. While extended {\it e-ph} coupling does not qualitatively alter the ground state of the 1D system compared to the Hubbard model, it quantitatively enhances the long-range superconducting correlations and suppresses spin correlations. Such an extended {\it e-ph} interaction may be an important missing ingredient in describing the physics of the structurally similar two-dimensional high-temperature superconducting layered cuprates, which may tip the balance between intertwined orders in favor of uniform $d$-wave superconductivity.

arXiv:2210.09288•Oct 17, 2022•0 citations

Traces of Electron-Phonon Coupling in One-Dimensional Cuprates

Ta Tang, Brian Moritz, Cheng Peng +2 more

Abstract The appearance of certain spectral features in one-dimensional (1D) cuprate materials has been attributed to a strong, extended attractive coupling between electrons. Here, using time-dependent density matrix renormalization group methods on a Hubbard-extended Holstein model, we show that extended electron-phonon (e-ph) coupling presents an obvious choice to produce such an attractive interaction that reproduces the observed spectral features and doping dependence seen in angle-resolved photoemission experiments: diminished $3k_F$ spectral weight, prominent spectral intensity of a holon-folding branch, and the correct holon band width. While extended e-ph coupling does not qualitatively alter the ground state of the 1D system compared to the Hubbard model, it quantitatively enhances the long-range superconducting correlations and suppresses spin correlations. Such an extended e-ph interaction may be an important missing ingredient in describing the physics of the structurally similar two-dimensional high-temperature superconducting layered cuprates, which may tip the balance between intertwined orders in favor of uniform $d$-wave superconductivity.

•Nov 9, 2022•0 citations

Traces of electron-phonon coupling in one-dimensional cuprates

Ta Tang, Brian Moritz, Cheng Peng +2 more

Abstract The appearance of certain spectral features in one-dimensional (1D) cuprate materials has been attributed to a strong, extended attractive coupling between electrons. Here, using time-dependent density matrix renormalization group methods on a Hubbard-extended Holstein model, we show that extended electron-phonon (e–ph) coupling presents an obvious choice to produce such an attractive interaction that reproduces the observed spectral features and doping dependence seen in angle-resolved photoemission experiments: diminished 3kF spectral weight, prominent spectral intensity of a holon-folding branch, and the correct holon band width. While extended e–ph coupling does not qualitatively alter the ground state of the 1D system compared to the Hubbard model, it quantitatively enhances the long-range superconducting correlations and suppresses spin correlations. Such an extended e–ph interaction may be an important missing ingredient in describing the physics of the structurally similar two-dimensional high-temperature superconducting layered cuprates, which may tip the balance between intertwined orders in favor of uniform d-wave superconductivity.

Nature Communications•May 30, 2023•28 citations

Spectral microscopic mechanisms and quantum phase transitions in a 1D correlated problem

J. M. P. Carmelo, Karlo Penc

In this paper we study the dominant microscopic processes that generate nearly the whole one-electron removal and addition spectral weight of the one-dimensional Hubbard model for all values of the on-site repulsion U . We find that for the doped Mott–Hubbard insulator there is a competition between the microscopic processes that generate the one-electron upper-Hubbard-band spectral-weight distributions of the Mott–Hubbard insulating phase and finite-doping-concentration metallic phase, respectively. The spectral-weight distributions generated by the non-perturbative processes studied here are shown elsewhere to agree quantitatively for the whole momentum and energy bandwidth with the peak dispersions observed by angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy in quasi-one-dimensional compounds.

arXiv:cond-mat/0508209•Journal of Physics Condensed Matter•Feb 20, 2006•4 citations
We use variational exact diagonalization (VED) to calculate the two-electron removal spectral weight for the Hubbard-Holstein model, starting from the ground state with two electrons on a one-dimensional chain. We argue that this spectral weight provides a valuable proxy for the intensity of 2eARPES processes. Our results show that when contrasted to the presumably larger signal due to two electrons ejected from two different pairs, the presumably weaker signal due to two electrons ejected from the same pair (i) is segregated in energy, appearing at a lower binding energy, and (ii) has a very characteristic momentum dependence, with a different symmetry than that of the signal corresponding to two electrons emitted from two different pairs. We verify that these fingerprints appear for pairs with different symmetries, and prove that they arise as a direct consequence of momentum and energy conservation, therefore they are generic for any model with electron-boson coupling that can lead to formation of electron pairs. Experimental observation of these fingerprints will confirm the existence of pairs. Moreover, the momentum dependence map allows one to distinguish whether the pairs are coherent (superconducting) or not. Finally, we argue that these considerations generalize to finite but low electron concentrations, finite temperatures, and higher dimensions.
We use density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) and variational exact diagonalization (VED) to calculate the single-electron removal spectral weight for the Hubbard-Holstein model at low electron densities. Tuning the strength of the electron-phonon coupling and of the Hubbard repulsion allows us to contrast the results for a liquid of polarons versus a liquid of bipolarons. The former shows spectral weight up to the Fermi energy, as expected for a metal. The latter has a gap in its spectral weight, set by the bipolaron binding energy, although this is also a (strongly correlated) metal. This difference suggests that angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy could be used to identify liquids of pre-formed pairs. Furthermore, we show that the one-dimensional liquid of incoherent bipolarons is well approximated by a "Bose sea" of bosons that are hard-core in momentum space, occupying the momenta inside the Fermi sea but otherwise noninteracting. This new proposal for a strongly correlated many-body wave function opens the way for studying various other properties of incoherent (nonsuperconducting) liquids of preformed pairs in any dimension.
Using an efficient variational exact diagonalization method, we computed the electron removal spectral function within the framework of the Holstein-Hubbard model containing two electrons with opposite spins coupled to dispersive quantum optical phonons. We focus on how the interplay between the electron-phonon coupling and on-site Coulomb repulsion shapes the spectral function, a quantity directly relevant to angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). Tuning the strengths of the electron-phonon coupling and the Hubbard interaction allows us to examine the evolution of the spectral properties of the system as it crosses over from a bound bipolaron to separate polarons. We find that phonon dispersion plays an important role: It substantially redistributes the spectral weight across the low- and the high-energy features and controls the emergence and the structure of distinct multiphonon continua. In regimes of strong electron-phonon coupling and low Coulomb repulsion, the spectral function exhibits a broad distribution reflecting bound bipolaronic states. Increasing the Coulomb repulsion weakens bipolaron binding, shifts the primary quasiparticle peak closer to polaronic behavior and confines the spectral weight near the Brillouin-zone center. Our results provide a framework for interpreting ARPES measurements in systems where phonon–mediated attraction competes with direct Coulomb repulsion.
The appearance of certain spectral features in one-dimensional (1D) cuprate materials has been attributed to a strong, extended attractive coupling between electrons. Here, using time-dependent density matrix renormalization group methods on a Hubbard-extended Holstein model, we show that extended electron-phonon ({\it e-ph}) coupling presents an obvious choice to produce such an attractive interaction that reproduces the observed spectral features and doping dependence seen in angle-resolved photoemission experiments: diminished 3kF3k_F3kF​ spectral weight, prominent spectral intensity of a holon-folding branch, and the correct holon band width. While extended {\it e-ph} coupling does not qualitatively alter the ground state of the 1D system compared to the Hubbard model, it quantitatively enhances the long-range superconducting correlations and suppresses spin correlations. Such an extended {\it e-ph} interaction may be an important missing ingredient in describing the physics of the structurally similar two-dimensional high-temperature superconducting layered cuprates, which may tip the balance between intertwined orders in favor of uniform ddd-wave superconductivity.
Abstract The appearance of certain spectral features in one-dimensional (1D) cuprate materials has been attributed to a strong, extended attractive coupling between electrons. Here, using time-dependent density matrix renormalization group methods on a Hubbard-extended Holstein model, we show that extended electron-phonon (e-ph) coupling presents an obvious choice to produce such an attractive interaction that reproduces the observed spectral features and doping dependence seen in angle-resolved photoemission experiments: diminished 3kF3k_F3kF​ spectral weight, prominent spectral intensity of a holon-folding branch, and the correct holon band width. While extended e-ph coupling does not qualitatively alter the ground state of the 1D system compared to the Hubbard model, it quantitatively enhances the long-range superconducting correlations and suppresses spin correlations. Such an extended e-ph interaction may be an important missing ingredient in describing the physics of the structurally similar two-dimensional high-temperature superconducting layered cuprates, which may tip the balance between intertwined orders in favor of uniform ddd-wave superconductivity.
Abstract The appearance of certain spectral features in one-dimensional (1D) cuprate materials has been attributed to a strong, extended attractive coupling between electrons. Here, using time-dependent density matrix renormalization group methods on a Hubbard-extended Holstein model, we show that extended electron-phonon (e–ph) coupling presents an obvious choice to produce such an attractive interaction that reproduces the observed spectral features and doping dependence seen in angle-resolved photoemission experiments: diminished 3kF spectral weight, prominent spectral intensity of a holon-folding branch, and the correct holon band width. While extended e–ph coupling does not qualitatively alter the ground state of the 1D system compared to the Hubbard model, it quantitatively enhances the long-range superconducting correlations and suppresses spin correlations. Such an extended e–ph interaction may be an important missing ingredient in describing the physics of the structurally similar two-dimensional high-temperature superconducting layered cuprates, which may tip the balance between intertwined orders in favor of uniform d-wave superconductivity.
In this paper we study the dominant microscopic processes that generate nearly the whole one-electron removal and addition spectral weight of the one-dimensional Hubbard model for all values of the on-site repulsion U . We find that for the doped Mott–Hubbard insulator there is a competition between the microscopic processes that generate the one-electron upper-Hubbard-band spectral-weight distributions of the Mott–Hubbard insulating phase and finite-doping-concentration metallic phase, respectively. The spectral-weight distributions generated by the non-perturbative processes studied here are shown elsewhere to agree quantitatively for the whole momentum and energy bandwidth with the peak dispersions observed by angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy in quasi-one-dimensional compounds.