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physica status solidi (b)

Mean field theory of a single fröhlich polaron possible existence of phase transitions

Yves Lépine, D. Matz

Published Dec 1, 1979• 23 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract New results for the free polaron ground state energy are presented, based on a non‐perturbative Fock approximation mean field theory. From variational calculations a new energy upper bound for all couplings is obtained, whose newness lies in its cylindrical symmetry, thu sbreaking the spherical symmetry of the Fröhlich Hamiltonian. For α (the electron–phonon coupling constant)≦3 a translational invariant state is found, for 3 ≦ α ⪅ 3.8 a two‐dimensional localized state while for α ⪆ 3.8, a three‐dimensional cylindrical localized state is obtained. By linking the variational approach to a dynamical approximation of the Fröhlich Hamiltonian, the possibility is suggested of second‐order phase transitions for the structure of the polaron, in the framework of the Fock approximation.

DOI
10.1002/pssb.2220960236

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The ground-state energy of the free polaron is calculated, using the Fock approximation. A new model Hamiltonian involving an electron in a harmonic potential of cylindrical symmetry in the presence of a variational magnetic field, internal in origin, is used. This magnetic field, which has no physical existence, introduces the possibility of symmetry breaking. This approach is shown to be equivalent to that of Peters and Devreese (1982), who used path integrals to study the properties of the polaron in a magnetic field, if the variational parameters of their model action are chosen to match those of the author's model and if the magnetic field in the model action is used as a variational parameter whose origin is internal. Using that approach, a strong-coupling ground-state energy much lower than the usual one is found (E 0 =-0.1658 alpha 2 ). It is shown that such a low value cannot be obtained from the adiabatic approximation because a model spectrum having a degenerate ground state has been used. His results call into question the assumption that the energies obtained from the Fock approximation or from the Feynman integrals are upper bounds to the polaron ground-state energy in the case of model actions or Hamiltonians involving magnetic fields.

Journal of Physics C Solid State Physics•May 30, 1987•2 citations

Fock approximation to the large polaron in a magnetic field

Yves Lépine, D. Matz

We study the large polaron ground state energy in the presence of a constant and uniform magnetic field within the Fock approximation. By use of a new trial spectrum we find a new upper bound to the ground state energy for all magnetic fields and electron–phonon coupling constants. The trial spectrum has the novel feature of keeping cylindrical symmetry for certain values of coupling, even in the absence of magnetic field.

Canadian Journal of Physics•Oct 1, 1976•37 citations
Abstract New results for the free polaron ground state energy are presented, based on a non‐perturbative Fock approximation mean field theory. From variational calculations a new energy upper bound for all couplings is obtained, whose newness lies in its cylindrical symmetry, thu sbreaking the spherical symmetry of the Fröhlich Hamiltonian. For α (the electron–phonon coupling constant)≦3 a translational invariant state is found, for 3 ≦ α ⪅ 3.8 a two‐dimensional localized state while for α ⪆ 3.8, a three‐dimensional cylindrical localized state is obtained. By linking the variational approach to a dynamical approximation of the Fröhlich Hamiltonian, the possibility is suggested of second‐order phase transitions for the structure of the polaron, in the framework of the Fock approximation.
Abstract A new translational invariant variational statement is given, which is exact to the order α2 for weak coupling and which is in the limiting case of strong coupling regarding the polaron self‐energy not poorer as‐0.105 α2 h ω. In the limiting case of weak coupling the polaron mass, the contributions to the self‐energy due to the individual components of Fröhlich's Hamiltonian, and up to the order α2 the mean value of virtual phonons in the ground state are exactly calculated.
Abstract It is shown that the Fröhlich polaron in a magnetic field (calculated in the Feynman approximation) exhibits a first‐order phase transition if the electron‐phonon coupling constant α is larger than 4.2. For α = 4.2 the transition is of second order. The phase transition manifests itself as a discontinuity in the magnetization, the susceptibility, and the polaron mass for a critical value of the magnetic field. It is found that at the transition point the phonon cloud surrounding the polaron cannot follow the electron in its motion in the magnetic field.
Abstract The properties of the ground state of the bound large polaron within the Fock approximation are investigated by using a new model spectrum which is known to describe better the polaron at low external fields. The results are compared with those of Matsuura who used the same approximation, obtained from a path integral formulation, with the usual Gaussian and Coulombic trial spectra, Both formulations are variational. It is found that the new spectrum gives better results (lower variational energies) than those of Matsuura for intermediate or large values of electron–phonon coupling and small values of the electrostatic coupling of the electron to the defect. This is related to that fact that the polaron seems to prefer a cylindrical symmetry to a spherical one in the absence of external fields.
The ground-state energy of the free polaron is calculated, using the Fock approximation. A new model Hamiltonian involving an electron in a harmonic potential of cylindrical symmetry in the presence of a variational magnetic field, internal in origin, is used. This magnetic field, which has no physical existence, introduces the possibility of symmetry breaking. This approach is shown to be equivalent to that of Peters and Devreese (1982), who used path integrals to study the properties of the polaron in a magnetic field, if the variational parameters of their model action are chosen to match those of the author's model and if the magnetic field in the model action is used as a variational parameter whose origin is internal. Using that approach, a strong-coupling ground-state energy much lower than the usual one is found (E 0 =-0.1658 alpha 2 ). It is shown that such a low value cannot be obtained from the adiabatic approximation because a model spectrum having a degenerate ground state has been used. His results call into question the assumption that the energies obtained from the Fock approximation or from the Feynman integrals are upper bounds to the polaron ground-state energy in the case of model actions or Hamiltonians involving magnetic fields.