If the bare interaction between two electrons is dressed in the two-dimensional electron gas by the response of the many-body environment, pairing may occur. Here, we study numerically the existence and character of bound states in the case where the dressing in the pair-interaction energy is described by the Overhauser geminal model [A. W. Overhauser, Can. J. Phys. 75, 683 (1995)]. The starting point of the model is the exchange correlation hole around a single electron. We constrain the hole by arguments based on the results for the exchange-correlation energy and the contact density of the pair-correlation function. We find a bound state with the energy minimized at a certain electron gas density. On the basis of the behavior of the binding energy we discuss recent experimental findings for the electron density dependence of the critical temperature in cuprate, Chevrel-phase, and Li-intercalated ${\mathrm{Li}}_{x}\mathrm{Zr}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{Cl}$ superconductors.If the bare interaction between two electrons is dressed in the two-dimensional electron gas by the response of the many-body environment, pairing may occur. Here, we study numerically the existence and character of bound states in the case where the dressing in the pair-interaction energy is described by the Overhauser geminal model [A. W. Overhauser, Can. J. Phys. 75, 683 (1995)]. The starting point of the model is the exchange correlation hole around a single electron. We constrain the hole by arguments based on the results for the exchange-correlation energy and the contact density of the pair-correlation function. We find a bound state with the energy minimized at a certain electron gas density. On the basis of the behavior of the binding energy we discuss recent experimental findings for the electron density dependence of the critical temperature in cuprate, Chevrel-phase, and Li-intercalated ${\mathrm{Li}}_{x}\mathrm{Zr}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{Cl}$ superconductors.

Physical Review BJun 29, 20072 citations

Itinerant ferromagnetism with finite-ranged interactions

Curt W. von Keyserlingk, G. J. Conduit

Quantum fluctuations are of central importance in itinerant ferromagnets; when modeled by a homogeneous electron gas with contact interactions, fluctuations deliver a rich phase diagram featuring a first order ferromagnetic transition preempted by a spin spiral and a paired density wave. In this work we develop the formalism to analyze the effects of fluctuations with a realistic screened Coulomb potential. The finite-ranged interaction suppresses the tricritical point temperature of the first order ferromagnetic transition, bringing theory into line with experiment, while retaining the exotic spin spiral and paired density wave. In an ultracold atomic gas a finite-ranged interaction damps the competing molecular instability, permitting the observation of ferromagnetic correlations.Quantum fluctuations are of central importance in itinerant ferromagnets; when modeled by a homogeneous electron gas with contact interactions, fluctuations deliver a rich phase diagram featuring a first order ferromagnetic transition preempted by a spin spiral and a paired density wave. In this work we develop the formalism to analyze the effects of fluctuations with a realistic screened Coulomb potential. The finite-ranged interaction suppresses the tricritical point temperature of the first order ferromagnetic transition, bringing theory into line with experiment, while retaining the exotic spin spiral and paired density wave. In an ultracold atomic gas a finite-ranged interaction damps the competing molecular instability, permitting the observation of ferromagnetic correlations.

arXiv:1301.6036Physical Review BMay 20, 201315 citations

Pairing in an one-dimensional interacting electron gas

Mauricio Fortes, Rafael Mendoza

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMar 7, 20070 citations

Zigzag Phase Transition in Quantum Wires and Localization in the Inhomogeneous One-Dimensional Electron Gas

Abhijit C. Mehta

In this work, we study two important themes in the physics of the interacting one-dimensional (1D) electron gas: the transition from one-dimensional to higher dimensional behavior, and the role of inhomogeneity. The interplay between interactions, reduced dimensionality, and inhomogeneity drives a rich variety of phenomena in mesoscopic physics. In 1D, interactions fundamentally alter the nature of the electron gas, and the homogeneous 1D electron gas is described by Luttinger Liquid theory. We use Quantum Monte Carlo methods to study two situations that are beyond Luttinger Liquid theory --- the quantum phase transition from a linear 1D electron system to a quasi-1D zigzag arrangement, and electron localization in quantum point contacts. Since the interacting electron gas has fundamentally different behavior in one dimension than in higher dimensions, the transition from 1D to higher dimensional behavior is of both practical and theoretical interest. We study the first stage in such a transition; the quantum phase transition from a 1D linear arrangement of electrons in a quantum wire to a quasi-1D zigzag configuration, and then to a liquid-like phase at higher densities. As the density increases from its lowest values, first, the electrons form a linear Wigner crystal; then, the symmetry about the axis of the wire is broken as the electrons order in a quasi-1D zigzag phase; and, finally, the electrons form a disordered liquid-like phase. We show that the linear to zigzag phase transition occurs even in narrow wires with strong quantum fluctuations, and that it has characteristics which are qualitatively different from the classical transition. Experiments in quantum point contacts (QPC's) show an unexplained feature in the conductance known as the ``0.7 Effect''. The presence of the 0.7 effect is an indication of the rich physics present in inhomogeneous systems, and we study electron localization in quantum point contacts to evaluate several different proposed mechanisms for the 0.7 effect. We show that electrons form a Wigner crystal in a 1D constriction; for sharp constriction potentials the localized electrons are separated from the leads by a gap in the density, while for smoother potentials, the Wigner crystal is smoothly connected to the leads. Isolated bound states can also form in smooth constrictions if they are sufficiently long. We thus show that localization can occur in QPC's for a variety of potential shapes and at a variety of electron densities. These results are consistent with the idea that the 0.7 effect and bound states observed in quantum point contacts are two distinct phenomena.In this work, we study two important themes in the physics of the interacting one-dimensional (1D) electron gas: the transition from one-dimensional to higher dimensional behavior, and the role of inhomogeneity. The interplay between interactions, reduced dimensionality, and inhomogeneity drives a rich variety of phenomena in mesoscopic physics. In 1D, interactions fundamentally alter the nature of the electron gas, and the homogeneous 1D electron gas is described by Luttinger Liquid theory. We use Quantum Monte Carlo methods to study two situations that are beyond Luttinger Liquid theory --- the quantum phase transition from a linear 1D electron system to a quasi-1D zigzag arrangement, and electron localization in quantum point contacts. Since the interacting electron gas has fundamentally different behavior in one dimension than in higher dimensions, the transition from 1D to higher dimensional behavior is of both practical and theoretical interest. We study the first stage in such a transition; the quantum phase transition from a 1D linear arrangement of electrons in a quantum wire to a quasi-1D zigzag configuration, and then to a liquid-like phase at higher densities. As the density increases from its lowest values, first, the electrons form a linear Wigner crystal; then, the symmetry about the axis of the wire is broken as the electrons order in a quasi-1D zigzag phase; and, finally, the electrons form a disordered liquid-like phase. We show that the linear to zigzag phase transition occurs even in narrow wires with strong quantum fluctuations, and that it has characteristics which are qualitatively different from the classical transition. Experiments in quantum point contacts (QPC's) show an unexplained feature in the conductance known as the ``0.7 Effect''. The presence of the 0.7 effect is an indication of the rich physics present in inhomogeneous systems, and we study electron localization in quantum point contacts to evaluate several different proposed mechanisms for the 0.7 effect. We show that electrons form a Wigner crystal in a 1D constriction; for sharp constriction potentials the localized electrons are separated from the leads by a gap in the density, while for smoother potentials, the Wigner crystal is smoothly connected to the leads. Isolated bound states can also form in smooth constrictions if they are sufficiently long. We thus show that localization can occur in QPC's for a variety of potential shapes and at a variety of electron densities. These results are consistent with the idea that the 0.7 effect and bound states observed in quantum point contacts are two distinct phenomena.

Jan 1, 20130 citations

Theoretical Studies on Electron-Pair Densities in Position and Momentum Spaces

永松山

Jan 1, 20000 citations

{\mathrm{Li}}_{x}\mathrm{Zr}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{Cl}

superconductors.