Solution 4

December 6, 2015

1 One-dimensional conductors
1.1
In the g = 0 limit, the Hamiltonian is

Π2 (x)
Z Z  
 † †
 1
H = dx R (x)(−ivF ∂x )R(x) + L (x)(ivF ∂x )L(x) + dx +
2(M/4K) 2∆2 (x)
(1)

(a) Suppose
Z
dq
R(x, t) = R(q, t)ei(qx−E(q)t) (2)
2π

where E(q) can be obtained from diagonalizing the Hamiltonian in momen-

tum space and E(q) = qvF .
The propagator for the right-moving electron is

hT R(x, t)R† (x0 , t0 )i = θ(t − t0 )hR(x, t)Rdag (x0 , t0 )i − θ(t0 − t)hR† (x0 , t)R(x, t)i
dqdq 0 iq(x−vF t)−iq0 (x0 −vF t0 ) 
Z
0 † 0 0 0 † 0 0

= e θ(t − t )hR(q, t)R (q , t )i − θ(t − t)hR (q , t )R(q, t)i
(2π)2
Z
dq iq(x−vF t−x0 +vF t0 )
= e [θ(t − t0 )θ(q) − θ(t0 − t)θ(−q)] (3)
2π

1
 Performing Fourier transformation for the above result, we have
Z Z
0 0
SRR (p, ω) = dx dte−i[p(x−x )−ω(t−t )] hT R(x, t)R† (x0 , t0 )i
Z Z Z
−i[p(x−x0 )−ω(t−t0 )] dq iq(x−x0 )−iqvF (t−t0 )
= dx dte e [θ(t − t0 )θ(q) − θ(t0 − t)θ(−q)]
2π
Z ∞ Z 0
= dtei(ω−pvF +i) tθ(p) − dtei(ω−pvF −i)t θ(−p)
0 −∞
iθ(p) iθ(−p)
= + (4)
ω − pvF + i ω − pvF − i

(b) Similarly, we have

Z
dq
L(x, t) = R(q, t)ei(qx−E(q)t) (5)
2π

where E(q) = −qvF . Therefore we can just take vF → −vF and calculate
the propagator for the left-moving electrons similarly
Z
† 0 0 dq iq(x+vF t−x0 −vF t0 )
hT L(x, t)L (x , t )i = e [θ(t − t0 )θ(−q) − θ(t0 − t)θ(q)]
2π
(6)

Then we have
iθ(−p) iθ(p)
SLL (p, ω) = + (7)
ω + pvF + i ω + pvF − i

(c) The Hamiltonian for phonon is

Z
1 4K
H∆ (x) = dx(Π2 (x) + ω02 ∆2 (x)) (8)
2M
p
where ω0 = M/4K.
Define
Z
dq
a(x, t) = a(q, t)eiqx−t/ω0
2π
dq 0 † 0 0 −i(q0 x0 −t0 /ω0 )
Z
a† (x0 , t0 ) = a (q , t )e (9)
2π

2
The above Hamiltonian can be written as
Z
1 1
H∆ (x) = dx (a† (x)a(x) + ) (10)
ω0 2
The propagator for the phonon field is
1
hT ∆(x, t)∆(x0 , t0 )i = hT (a(x, t) + a† (x, t))(a(x0 , t0 ) + a† (x0 , t0 ))i
ω0
 Z Z 
1 0 dq iq(x−x0 )−i(t−t0 )/ω0 0−t dq −iq(x−x0 )+i(t−t0 )/ω0
= θ(t − t ) e + θ(t ) e
2ω0 2π 2π
(11)

Hence we have
Z Z
0 0
G∆ (p, ω) = dx dte−i[p(x−x )−ω(t−t )] hT ∆(x, t)∆(x0 , t0 )i
Z ∞ Z 0 
1 iωt −it/ω0 −t iωt it/ω0 t
= dte e e − dte e e
2ω0 0 −∞
 
i 1 1
= −
2ω0 ω − 1/ω0 + i ω + 1/ω0 − i
i
= M 2 (12)
4K
ω − 1 + i

1.2
For the electron-phonon vertex shown in Fig.1, it represents the interaction
between electron and phonon, the corresponding interaction terms are

g∆(x)L† R
g∆(x)R† L (13)

1.3
In the limit M → ∞, the Hamiltonian is
Z   Z
† −ivF ∂x g∆(x) 1
H = dxψ (x) ψ(x) + dx ∆2 (14)
g∆(x) ivF ∂x 2

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Use the Fourier expansion
Z
dp
ψ(x) = ψ(p)ipx (15)
2π
The Hamitonian can then be written as
X Z dp  
† pvF g∆ 1
H= ψp,α ψp,α0 + N a0 ∆2 (16)
2π g∆ −pvF α,α0 2
α,α0 =R,L

This Hamiltonian can be diagonalized by defining

r r
E + pvF E − pvF
ap = Rp + Lp
2E r 2E
E − pvF E + pvF
bp = − Rp + Lp (17)
2E 2E
Therefore, we have
Z   
dp † †
E 0 ap 1
H= ap b p + N a0 ∆2 (18)
2π 0 −E b p 2
where
q
E= p2 vF2 + g 2 ∆2 (19)

After diagonalizing the Hamiltonian, we see that there are both positive
and negative energy excitations. The negative energy excitation looks like
excitation from holes and we can perform a particle-hole transformation by
taking bp = d†p . Then we have
Z
dp 1
H= E(p)(a†p ap + d†p dp − 1) + N a0 ∆2 (20)
2π 2
The ground state is defined by

ap |GSi = 0 dp |GSi = 0 (21)

The ground state energy is

Z Ec /pF
dp 1
q
Egnd = − p2 vF2 + g 2 ∆2 + N a0 ∆2 (22)
−Ec /pF 2π 2

4
To minimize the energy E0 , we need to find ∆, which satisfies
dEgnd
=0 (23)
d∆
This leads to
g2∆
 
Ec vF
N a0 ∆ − arcsinh =0 (24)
πvF g|∆|pF
Hence we have
Ec vF 1
∆0 = ±  
gpF sinh N a0 πvF
g2
 
2Ec vF N a0 πvF
≈± exp − (25)
gpF g2

1.4
The fermion propagator
dqdq 0 iqx−iq0 x0
Z
† 0 0
hT R(x, t)L (x , t )i = e hT R(q, t)L† (q 0 , t0 )i
(2π)2
dqdq 0 iqx−iq0 x0 
Z
0 † 0 0 0 † 0 0

= e θ(t − t )hR(q, t)L (q , t )i − θ(t − t)hL (q , t )R(q, t)i
(2π)2
(26)
According to Eq.(17), we have
r r
E + pvF E − pvF
Rp = ap − bp
r 2E r 2E
E − pvF E + pvF
Lp = ap + bp (27)
2E 2E
Using the above equations, we can show that
g∆ 0
hR(q, t)L† (q 0 , t0 )i = δ(q − q 0 )2πe−iE(q)(t−t ) (28)
2E(q)
Simiarly, we have
g∆ 0
hL† (q 0 , t0 )R(q, t)i = − δ(q − q 0 )2πeiE(q)(t−t ) (29)
2E(q)

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Therefore we have
dqdq 0 iqx−iq0 x0 
Z
† 0 0 0 † 0 0 0 † 0 0

hT R(x, t)L (x , t )i = e θ(t − t )hR(q, t)L (q , t )i − θ(t − t)hL (q , t )R(q, t)i
(2π)2
Z
dq iq(x−x0 ) g∆ h 0 0
i
= e θ(t − t0 )e−iE(q)(t−t ) + θ(t0 − t)eiE(q)(t−t ) (30)
2π 2E
In momentum space, it becomes
Z Z Z
−i[p(x−x0 )−ω(t−t0 )] dq iq(x−x0 ) g∆ h 0 0
i
SRL (p, ω) = dx dte e θ(t − t0 )e−iE(q)(t−t ) + θ(t0 − t)eiE(q)(t−t )
2π 2E
Z ∞ Z 0 
g∆
= dteiωt e−t e−iE(p)t + dteiωt et eiE(p)t
2E(p) 0 −∞
 
ig∆ 1 1
= − (31)
2E(p) ω − E(p) + i ω + E(p) − i

Thus when g 6= 0, the left and right movers are coupled together and there
is non-zero component for SRL (p, ω).
Similarly, we can calculate the fermion propagator for the right mover

hT L(x, t)R† (x0 , t0 )i = hT R(x, t)L† (x0 , t0 )i (32)

This leads to
 
ig∆ 1 1
SLR (p, ω) = − (33)
2E(p) ω − E(p) + i ω + E(p) − i

Using the same method, we can show that

hT R(x, t)R† (x0 , t0 )

 
E − qvF iE(q)(t−t0 )
Z
dq iq(x−x0 ) 0 E + qvF −iE(q)(t−t0 ) 0
= e θ(t − t ) e − θ(t − t) e
2π 2E 2E
(34)

In momentum space, it equals to

E(p) + pvF i E(p) − pvF i

SRR (p, ω) = + (35)
2E(p) ω − E(p) + i 2E(p) ω + E(p) − i

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The fermion propagator for the left mover is

hT L(x, t)L† (x0 , t0 )

 
0 E − qvF −iE(q)(t−t0 )
Z
dq iq(x−x0 ) 0 E + qvF iE(q)(t−t0 )
= e θ(t − t ) e − θ(t − t) e
2π 2E 2E
(36)

In momentum space, it equals to

E(p) − pvF i E(p) + pvF i
SLL (p, ω) = + (37)
2E(p) ω − E(p) + i 2E(p) ω + E(p) − i

1.5
The energy spectrum is
p
E(p)± = ± (vF p)2 + (g∆)2 (38)

There is an energy gap because

 
4Ec vF N a0 πvF
E(p = 0)+ − E(p = 0)− = 2g∆ ≈ exp − (39)
pF g2
The single particle state can be represented as

a†p |GSi, d†p |GSi (40)

1.6
Under the global discrete transformation,

R(x) → R(x), L(x) → −L(x), ∆(x) → −∆(x), (41)

The Hamiltonian becomes

X Z dp   
† †

−ivF ∂x −g∆ R(x)
H= R (x) −L (x) + ···
2π −g∆ ivF ∂x −L(x)
α,α0 =R,L
(42)

It is identical to the original Hamiltonian and thus the Hamiltonian is invari-

ant under the global discrete symmetry transformation.

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 In terms of the lattice model,
1  ipF x(n)
R + e−ipF x(n) L

c[x(n)] = √ e (43)
2a0
under the global Z2 transformation,
1  ipF x(n)
c0 [x(n)] = √ R − e−ipF x(n) L

e
2a0
= (−i)c[x(n + 1)] (44)

where we use pF = π/2.

For u[x(n)],

u[x(n)] = u0 + cos(πn)∆ (45)

under the Z2 transformation,

u0 [x(n)] = u0 − cos(πn)∆ = u[x(n + 1)] (46)

Therefore this transformation is equivalent to a translation of all the fields

by one lattice spacing.
For the CDW order parameter, under the Z2 transformation, we have
0
OCDW (x) = −R† (x)L(x) − L† (x)R(x) = −OCDW (x) (47)

It is odd under the global discrete symmetry.

1.7
The ground state expectation value for OCDW in the M → ∞ limit is

hGS|OCDW |GSi = hGS|R† (x)L(x) + L† (x)R(x)|GSi

Z Ec /pF Z Ec /pF
dp g∆0 dp g∆0
=− −
Ec /pF 2π 2E(p) Ec /pF 2π 2E(p)
Z Ec /pF
dp g∆ N a0 ∆0
=− 2 2 2 2
=− (48)
−Ec /pF 2π g ∆0 + p vF g

This suggests that the order parameter has non-vanishing expectation value
only if ∆ 6= 0.

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1.8
Using the bosonization method, we have
1 √
R(x) ∼ √ : ei2 πφR (x) :
2πa0
1 √
L(x) ∼ √ : e−i2 πφL (x) : (49)
2πa0
where
√ Z x1
β π
φR (x) = √ φ(x) − dx01 Π(x0 , x01 )
4 π β
√ Z −∞
β π x1 0
φL (x) = √ φ(x) + dx Π(x0 , x01 ) (50)
4 π β −∞ 1
We can derive that
1 −i2√πφ(x) 1 i2√πφ(x)
R† (x)L(x) + L† (x)R(x) = e + e
2πa0 2πa0
1 √
= cos(2 πφ(x)) (51)
πa0

1.9
According to the rule in Eq.(49), the bosonized Hamiltonian is
Π2
X Z dp    Z  
† †

−ivF ∂x −g∆ R(x) 1 2
H= R (x) −L (x) + dx + ∆
0
2π −g∆ ivF ∂x −L(x) 2M/4K 2
α,α =R,L
√ Π2
Z Z  
vF 2 2

g∆(x) 1 2
= dx Πφ + (∂x φ) + cos(2 πφ) + dx + ∆
2 πa0 2M/4K 2
(52)

√ Hamiltonian is invariant under the symmetry ∆ → −∆ and φ → φ +

This
π/2. This symmetry is equivalent to the chiral symmetry defined in the
fermion model and corresponds to two dimerization pattern.

1.10
(a) For the Dirac Hamiltonian
 
−ivF ∂x g∆(x)
HDirac = (53)
g∆(x) ivF ∂x

9
When ∆(x) takes a soliton configuration, there is a fermionic zero mode of
the form
 
R −f (x)
ψ(x) = e (54)
L
To find the explicit form of f (x) function, we need to solve the following
equation
  
−ivF ∂x g∆(x) R −f (x)
e =0 (55)
g∆(x) ivF ∂x L
This leads to
ig∆(x)L ig∆(x)R
f 0 (x) = =− (56)
vF R vF L
Solving this equation gives R/L = ±i. When R/L = i, we have
g∆(x)
f 0 (x) = (57)
vF
In the thin-soliton approximation ∆(x) = ∆0 sign(x), we have
r
g g∆0
f (x) = ∆0 |x|, L = (58)
vF 2vF
Therefore the zero mode wavefunction is normalizable and equals to
 r
i g∆0 − vg ∆0 |x|
ψ(x) = e F (59)
1 2vF
When R/L = −i, f (x) = − vgF ∆0 |x|, the solution is not normalizable and is
non-physical.
(b) The charge in terms of boson is
Z Z
e e
Q = −e dxj0 (x) = − √ dx∂x φ(x) = − √ (φ(∞) − φ(−∞)) (60)
π π
√
We know the Hamiltonian is invariant under ∆ → −∆ and φ → φ + π/2.
For the soliton configuration,
√ ∆(x = ∞) = −∆(x = −∞), thus we have
φ(−∞) = φ(∞) + π/2. The charge Q is equal to
e
Q= (61)
2
This demonstrates that the solition carries fractional charge.

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