Electron correlation is a cornerstone of modern condensed matter physics, traditionally quantified by the magnitude of the two‑particle correlation function. In this work we introduce the concept of the Electron Correlation Phase Spectrum (ECPS), which records not only the amplitude but also the phase of the correlation function. The phase of a correlation function contains information about the relative timing and spatial ordering of electronic excitations, and its spectral decomposition provides a new observable for quantum materials spectroscopy. We formulate a rigorous definition of the ECPS, derive its properties from many‑body theory, and demonstrate how it can be computed from first‑principles wavefunctions. The ECPS is shown to be sensitive to hidden orders, fractionalization, and topological invariants that are invisible to conventional amplitude‑only probes. This work lays the theoretical foundation for future experimental realizations of phase‑sensitive correlation spectroscopy, with potential applications to high‑temperature superconductors, quantum spin liquids, and engineered quantum devices.
Electron correlation is a cornerstone of modern condensed matter physics, traditionally quantified by the magnitude of the two‑particle correlation function. In this work we introduce the concept of the Electron Correlation Phase Spectrum (ECPS), which records not only the amplitude but also the phase of the correlation function. The phase of a correlation function contains information about the relative timing and spatial ordering of electronic excitations, and its spectral decomposition provides a new observable for quantum materials spectroscopy. We formulate a rigorous definition of the ECPS, derive its properties from many‑body theory, and demonstrate how it can be computed from first‑principles wavefunctions. The ECPS is shown to be sensitive to hidden orders, fractionalization, and topological invariants that are invisible to conventional amplitude‑only probes. This work lays the theoretical foundation for future experimental realizations of phase‑sensitive correlation spectroscopy, with potential applications to high‑temperature superconductors, quantum spin liquids, and engineered quantum devices.
The concept of electron correlation has long been a cornerstone of modern condensed matter physics and quantum chemistry. Traditionally, correlation effects are quantified solely by a real-valued magnitude that measures the strength of inter-electronic interactions beyond mean-field approximations. In this work we propose a generalized framework that incorporates not only the amplitude of correlation but also a phase factor, denoted as φ_C. The combined entity, referred to as the Electron Correlation Phase Spectrum (ECPS), provides a richer description of correlated electronic systems. By formulating the ECPS in terms of many-body wavefunctions and Green's functions, we demonstrate that the phase component encodes information about collective excitations, topological characteristics, and symmetry-breaking phenomena. The ECPS offers a unified language for interpreting spectroscopic data from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, thereby opening new avenues for discovering hidden electronic orders and potentially guiding the next generation of Nobel-prize-worthy discoveries in quantum materials.
An up-to-date selection of applications of correlation spectroscopy, in particular as far as the mapping of properties of correlated many-body systems is concerned. The book starts with a qualitative analysis of the outcome of the two-particle correlation spectroscopy of localized and delocalized electronic systems as they occur in atoms and solids. The second chapter addresses how spin-dependent interactions can be imaged by means of correlation spectroscopy, both in spin-polarized and extended systems. A further chapter discusses possible pathways for the production of interacting two-particle continuum states. After presenting some established ways of quantifying electronic correlations and pointing out the relationship to correlation spectroscopy, the author addresses in a separate chapter the electron-electron interaction in extended systems, and illustrates the ideas by some applications to fullerenes and metal clusters. The last two chapters are devoted to the investigation of the potential of two-particle spectroscopy in studying ordered surfaces and disordered samples. Throughout the book the material is analyzed using rather qualitative arguments, and the results of more sophisticated theories serve the purpose of endorsing the suggested physical scenarios. The foundations of some of these theories have been presented in a corresponding volume entitled "Concepts of Highly Excited Electronic Systems" (3-527-40335-3).
This paper develops a rigorous C*-algebraic framework for understanding and classifying topological quantum phases through the lens of spectral entanglement. Topological quantum phases represent a frontier in condensed matter physics, characterized by robust properties that are insensitive to local perturbations and often manifest exotic excitations. Concurrently, entanglement, a quintessential quantum mechanical phenomenon, serves as a crucial resource for quantum information processing and a powerful diagnostic tool for quantum phases of matter. By integrating the formalisms of C*-algebras and spectral theory, we propose a robust mathematical language to describe the algebraic structure of observables in systems exhibiting topological order. Our approach leverages the spectral properties of density matrices and entanglement Hamiltonians within this algebraic setting to define and quantify spectral entanglement, revealing its intrinsic connection to topological invariants. We demonstrate how this framework provides a unified perspective on the interplay between local algebras of observables, their spectral characteristics, and the non-local correlations that define topological order. The paper outlines theoretical constructs for computing entanglement measures and topological indices directly from the C*-algebraic properties, thereby offering new avenues for classifying these phases and exploring their underlying quantum information content with potential implications for fault-tolerant quantum computing and novel electronic devices.
Preparation, I have often said, is rightly two-thirds of any venture. Amelia Earhart Summary Correlation functions provide a direct way to characterize and analyze many-body systems, both theoretically and experimentally. In this chapter we review the properties of one- and two-body correlation functions in quantum systems, with emphasis on several key quantities: static density correlations that determine the energy and thermodynamic potentials, dynamic correlation functions such as response functions that describe excitations of the system, and Green's functions that are basic tools in the theory of interacting many-body systems. Correlation functions are central quantities in the description of interacting many-body systems, both in the theoretical formulation and in the analysis of experiments. In contrast to single numbers like the total energy, correlation functions reveal far more information about the electrons, how they arrange themselves, and the spectra of their excitations. In contrast to the many-body wavefunctions that contain all the information on the system, correlation functions extract the information most directly relevant to experimentally measurable properties. Dynamic current–current correlation functions are sufficient to determine the electrical and optical properties: one-body Green's functions describe the spectra of excitations when one electron is added to or removed from the system, static and dynamic correlations are measured using scattering techniques, and so forth. In this chapter we present the basic definitions and properties of correlation functions and Green's functions that are the basis for much of the developments in the following chapters. In general, a correlation function quantifies the correlation between two or more quantities at different points in space r , time t , or spin σ . Very often the correlation function can be specified as a function of the Fourier-transformed variables, momentum (wavevector) k , and frequency ω . It is useful to distinguish between a dynamic correlation function which describes the correlation between events at different times and a static or equal-time correlation function, by which we mean that of a property measured or computed with “snapshots” of the system. Also, the different correlation functions can be classified by the number of particles and/or fields involved.
The exploration of quantum phases in strongly correlated electron systems represents a frontier in condensed matter physics, offering insights into phenomena such as high-temperature superconductivity, Mott insulation, and quantum spin liquids. Traditional theoretical approaches, relying on perturbative or mean-field approximations, often fall short in capturing the intricate interplay of electron correlations that drive these exotic phases. This paper delves into the critical role of exact and highly accurate diagrammatic expansions as powerful, non-perturbative tools for unraveling the emergence and characterization of quantum phases. We review the theoretical foundations of these methods, including advanced techniques like Dynamical Mean-Field Theory extensions and the Functional Renormalization Group, and discuss their ability to systematically incorporate non-local correlations. By examining their application to canonical models, we illustrate how these expansions provide a robust framework for constructing phase diagrams, predicting novel quantum states, and discerning the mechanisms underlying quantum phase transitions. We highlight the computational advancements, such as diagrammatic Monte Carlo, that enable the practical implementation of these complex theories. Finally, we discuss current challenges and future prospects, emphasizing the potential of exact diagrammatic expansions to deepen our understanding of quantum matter and guide the discovery of new materials with tailored functionalities.
In no wave function of the type (1) [product of single determinants for each spin] is there a statistical correlation between the positions of the electrons with antiparallel spin. The purpose of the aforementioned generalization of (1) is to allow for such correlations. This will lead to an improvement of the wave function and, therefore, to a lowering of the energy value. E. Wigner, Phys. Rev. 46, 1002 (1934) Summary Although the exact many-body wavefunction cannot be written down in general, we do know of some of its properties. For example, there are differences between the wavefunctions of insulators and metals and the cusp condition gives the behavior as any two charges approach each other. In this chapter we also discuss approximate wavefunctions, ways to judge their accuracy and how to include electronic correlation. Examples of many-body wavefunctions are the Slater–Jastrow (pair product) wavefunction and its generalization to pairing and backflow wavefunctions. In other places in this book, we argue that it is not necessary to look at the many-body wavefunctions explicitly because they are unwieldy; the one- and two-body correlation functions discussed in Ch. 5 are sufficient to determine the energy and give information on the excitation spectra. However, these correlation functions do not always contain all information of interest. In principle, the ground-state energy of a many-electron system is a functional of the density, but the very derivation of the theorem invokes the many-body wavefunction, as expressed explicitly in Eq. (4.16). The effects of antisymmetry are manifest in the correlation functions, but antisymmetry is most simply viewed as a property of the wavefunction; electronic correlation is fundamentally a result of properties of the many-body wavefunction. Studying many-body wavefunctions provides a very useful, different point of view of many-body physics from the approaches based on correlation functions. Many of the most important discoveries in physics have come about by understanding the nature of wavefunctions, such as the Laughlin wavefunction for the fractional quantum Hall effect, the BCS wavefunction for superconductors, p-wave pairing in superfluid 3 He, and the Heitler– London approach for molecular binding. The role of Berry's phases has brought out the importance of the phase of the wavefunction in determining properties of quantum systems. This has led to new understanding of the classification of insulators, metals, superconductors, vortices, and other states of condensed matter.