Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2001
Publication Title
Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Abstract
We study the electron spectral function of various zero-temperature spin-charge separated phases in two dimensions. In these phases, the electron is not a fundamental excitation of the system, but rather “decays” into a spin-1/2 chargeless fermion (the spinon) and a spinless charge e boson (the chargon). Using low-energy effective theories for the spinons (d-wave pairing plus possible Néel order) and the chargons (condensed or quantum-disordered bosons), we explore three phases of possible relevance to the cuprate superconductors: (1) (formula presented) a fractionalized antiferromagnet where the spinons are paired into a state with long-ranged Néel order and the chargons are 1/2-filled and (Mott) insulating; (2) the nodal liquid, a fractionalized insulator where the spinons are d-wave paired and the chargons are uncondensed; and (3) the d-wave superconductor, where the chargons are condensed and the spinons retain a d-wave gap. Working within the (formula presented) gauge theory of such fractionalized phases, our results should be valid at scales below the energy gap of the vison—the basic vortex excitation in the theory. However, on a phenomenological level, our results should apply to any spin-charge separated system where the excitations have these low-energy effective forms. Comparison with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy data in the undoped, pseudogapped, and superconducting regions is made.
Volume
64
Issue
1
DOI
10.1103/PhysRevB.64.014518
ISSN
10980121
Rights
© 2001 The American Physical Society
Recommended Citation
Lannert, Courtney; Fisher, Matthew P.A.; and Senthil, T., "Electron Spectral Function in Two-Dimensional Fractionalized Phases" (2001). Physics: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/phy_facpubs/73
Comments
Archived as published.