Exact-diagonalization study of the Hubbard model with nearest-neighbor repulsion

Tuning the magnetic dimensionality by charge ordering in the molecular TMTTF salts

We theoretically investigate the interplay between charge ordering and magnetic states in quasi-one-dimensional molecular conductors TMTTF(2)X, motivated by the observation of a complex variation of competing and/or coexisting phases. We show that the ferroelectric-type charge order increases two-dimensional antiferromagnetic spin correlation, whereas in the one-dimensional regime two different spin-Peierls states are stabilized. By using first-principles band calculations for the estimation for the transfer integrals and comparing our results with the experiments, we identify the controlling parameters in the experimental phase diagram to be not only the interchain transfer integrals but also the amplitude of the charge order.

Quantum criticality in organic conductors? Fermi liquid versus non-Fermi-liquid behaviour

Organic metals exhibit unusual electronic properties in their charge and spin degrees of freedom that have puzzled physicists for decades. By now this behaviour is established as intrinsic and related to electronic interactions. Like other correlated electron systems, such as heavy fermions or transition-metal oxides, organic conductors are located next to some ordered phase in the spin or charge sectors. Theory predicts quantum fluctuations to become important at low temperatures and quantum critical behaviour present in most physical properties. Here we survey the experimental evidence of quantum criticality in well-established organic model compounds and look for indications of non-Fermi-liquid behaviour.

Anisotropic charge ordering on the gallium surface

Low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy of atomically flat Ga(001) islands revealed the 2D electronic superlattice composed of stripe domains. Tunnel spectroscopy of these surface electrons indicates the formation of a 2D charge-ordered state of Wigner-crystal type driven by competition of short-range and long-range Coulomb energies. At the boundaries of stripe domains the energy spectra exhibit splitting due to charged excitonic states and shift due to charge doping, altogether indicating the self-assembly of 1D hole stripes. The size distribution of stripe domains is broadened around 4a.

Nonlocal Coulomb correlations in metals close to a charge order insulator transition

The charge ordering transition induced by the nearest-neighbor Coulomb repulsion V in the 1/4-filled extended Hubbard model is investigated using cellular dynamical mean-field theory. We find a transition to a strongly renormalized charge ordered Fermi liquid at V(CO) and a metal-to-insulator transition at V(MI)>V(CO). Short range antiferromagnetism occurs concomitantly with the CO transition. Approaching the charge ordered insulator, V approximately <V(MI), the Fermi surface deforms and the scattering rate of electrons develops momentum dependence on the Fermi surface.

Non-fermi liquid behavior in nearly charge ordered layered metals

Non-Fermi liquid behavior is shown to occur in two-dimensional metals which are close to a charge ordering transition driven by the Coulomb repulsion. A linear temperature dependence of the scattering rate together with an increase of the electron effective mass occur above T*, a temperature scale much smaller than the Fermi temperature. It is shown that the anomalous temperature dependence of the optical conductivity of the quasi-two-dimensional organic metal alpha-(BEDT-TTF)2MHg(SCN)4, with M = NH4 and Rb, above T* = 50-100K, agrees qualitatively with predictions for the electronic properties of nearly charge ordered two-dimensional metals.