Wigner crystal physics in quantum wires.

Journal Article · Wed Jan 14 04:00:00 EST 2009 · J. Phys.: Cond. Matt.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/21/2/023203· OSTI ID:948805

Meyer, J S; Matveev, K A

The physics of interacting quantum wires has attracted a lot of attention recently. When the density of electrons in the wire is very low, the strong repulsion between electrons leads to the formation of a Wigner crystal. We review the rich spin and orbital properties of the Wigner crystal, in both the one-dimensional and the quasi-one-dimensional regimes. In the one-dimensional Wigner crystal the electron spins form an antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain with exponentially small exchange coupling. In the presence of leads, the resulting inhomogeneity of the electron density causes a violation of spin-charge separation. As a consequence the spin degrees of freedom affect the conductance of the wire. Upon increasing the electron density, the Wigner crystal starts deviating from the strictly one-dimensional geometry, forming a zigzag structure instead. Spin interactions in this regime are dominated by ring exchanges, and the phase diagram of the resulting zigzag spin chain has a number of unpolarized phases as well as regions of complete and partial spin polarization. Finally we address the orbital properties in the vicinity of the transition from a one-dimensional to a quasi-one-dimensional state. Due to the locking between chains in the zigzag Wigner crystal, only one gapless mode exists. Manifestations of Wigner crystal physics at weak interactions are explored by studying the fate of the additional gapped low-energy mode as a function of interaction strength.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 948805
• Report Number(s): ANL/MSD/JA-62524
• Journal Information: J. Phys.: Cond. Matt., Journal Name: J. Phys.: Cond. Matt. Journal Issue: 2 ; Jan. 14, 2009 Vol. 21; ISSN 0953-8984; ISSN JCOMEL
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
DEGREES OF FREEDOM
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRONS
GEOMETRY
PHASE DIAGRAMS
PHYSICS
POLARIZATION
QUANTUM WIRES
SPIN
WEAK INTERACTIONS