Abstract
We consider a long quantum wire at low electron densities. In this strong-interaction regime a Wigner crystal may form, in which electrons comprise an antiferromagnetic Heisenberg spin chain. The coupling constant is exponentially small, as it originates from tunneling of two neighboring electrons through the segregating potential barrier. We study this exponential dependence, properly accounting for the many-body effects and the finite width of the wire.
- Received 5 April 2005
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.72.195343
©2005 American Physical Society