Localizing Transitions via Interaction-Induced Flat Bands

Fuente: arXiv
Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Parhizkar, Alireza, Galitski, Victor
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866914974938431488
author Parhizkar, Alireza
Galitski, Victor
author_facet Parhizkar, Alireza
Galitski, Victor
contents This paper presents a theory of interaction-induced band-flattening in strongly correlated electron systems. We begin by illustrating an inherent connection between flat bands and index theorems, and presenting a generic prescription for constructing flat bands by periodically repeating local Hamiltonians with topological zero modes. Specifically, we demonstrate that a Dirac particle in an external, spatially periodic magnetic field can be cast in this form. We derive a condition on the field to produce perfectly flat bands and provide an exact analytical solution for the flat band wave functions. Furthermore, we explore an interacting model of Dirac fermions in a spatially inhomogeneous field. We show that certain Hubbard-Stratonovich configurations exist that ``rectify'' the field configuration, inducing band flattening. We present an explicit model where this localization scenario is energetically favorable -- specifically in Dirac systems with nearly flat bands, where the energy cost of rectifying textures is quadratic in the order parameter, whereas the energy gain from flattening is linear. In conclusion, we discuss alternative symmetry-breaking channels, especially superconductivity, and propose that these interaction-induced band-flattening scenarios represent a generic non-perturbative mechanism for spontaneous symmetry breaking, pertinent to many strongly-correlated electron systems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2308_16440
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Localizing Transitions via Interaction-Induced Flat Bands
Parhizkar, Alireza
Galitski, Victor
Strongly Correlated Electrons
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
High Energy Physics - Theory
Mathematical Physics
Quantum Physics
This paper presents a theory of interaction-induced band-flattening in strongly correlated electron systems. We begin by illustrating an inherent connection between flat bands and index theorems, and presenting a generic prescription for constructing flat bands by periodically repeating local Hamiltonians with topological zero modes. Specifically, we demonstrate that a Dirac particle in an external, spatially periodic magnetic field can be cast in this form. We derive a condition on the field to produce perfectly flat bands and provide an exact analytical solution for the flat band wave functions. Furthermore, we explore an interacting model of Dirac fermions in a spatially inhomogeneous field. We show that certain Hubbard-Stratonovich configurations exist that ``rectify'' the field configuration, inducing band flattening. We present an explicit model where this localization scenario is energetically favorable -- specifically in Dirac systems with nearly flat bands, where the energy cost of rectifying textures is quadratic in the order parameter, whereas the energy gain from flattening is linear. In conclusion, we discuss alternative symmetry-breaking channels, especially superconductivity, and propose that these interaction-induced band-flattening scenarios represent a generic non-perturbative mechanism for spontaneous symmetry breaking, pertinent to many strongly-correlated electron systems.
title Localizing Transitions via Interaction-Induced Flat Bands
topic Strongly Correlated Electrons
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
High Energy Physics - Theory
Mathematical Physics
Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.16440