Exact results for spatial decay of the one-body density matrix in low-dimensional insulators

We provide a tight-binding model of insulator, for which we derive an exact analytic form of the one-body density matrix and its large-distance asymptotics in dimensions $D=1,2$. The system is built out of a band of single-particle orbitals in a periodic potential. Breaking of the translational symmetry of the system results in two bands, separated by a direct gap whose width is proportional to the unique energy parameter of the model. The form of the decay is a power law times an exponential. We determine the power in the power law and the correlation length in the exponential, versus the lattice direction, the direct-gap width, and the lattice dimension. In particular, the obtained exact formulae imply that in the diagonal direction of the square lattice the inverse correlation length vanishes linearly with the vanishing gap, while in non-diagonal directions, the linear scaling is replaced by the square root one. Independently of direction, for sufficiently large gaps the inverse correlation length grows logarithmically with the gap width.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

On the nature of striped phases: Striped phases as a stage of "melting" of 2D crystals

We discuss striped phases as a state of matter intermediate between two extreme states: a crystalline state and a segregated state. We argue that this state is very sensitive to weak interactions, compared to those stabilizing a crystalline state, and to anisotropies. Moreover, under suitable conditions a 2D system in a striped phase decouples into (quasi) 1D chains. These observations are based on results of our studies of an extension of a microscopic quantum model of crystallization, proposed originally by Kennedy and Lieb.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figure