Physical Review Letters
Electronic Correlations in One-Dimensional Superlattices
Thereza Paiva, Raimundo R. dos Santos
Abstract
We consider fermions on a one-dimensional superlattice, represented by a repeated pattern of repulsive (i.e., positive Hubbard $U$) and free (i.e., $U\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}0$) sites. Lanczos diagonalization of chains up to 12 sites at half filling shows that some patterns give rise to a weak form of frustration, sufficient to wipe out the spin-density-wave (SDW) correlations present in the otherwise homogeneous system. On the other hand, SDW correlations appear for some patterns above half filling, a feature absent in the homogeneous case. Below half filling, the local-moment maxima are displaced from the repulsive to the free sites. The peak in the magnetic structure factor is also shifted from $q\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\pi}$, for the alternating configuration when $\ensuremath{\rho}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}1/3$ and 5/3.