Fractionalization of long-range ordered states in a Falicov-Kimball model

Abstract

A Falicov-Kimball model which thermodynamically reduces the local Coulomb interaction of particles to attraction or repulsion is studied within the dynamical mean-field theory. In the strong interaction regime a fractionalization of particles into charge and spin objects, the physical properties of which are different from the whole particles, is observed in both high- and low-temperature phases. At high temperature and strong interaction the single-particle density of states opens an excitation gap, but the charge compressibility and the spin susceptibility exhibit the features of gapless excitations. The low-temperature phase has a long-range order, and the single-particle spectra are always gapped, while the charge and spin excitations are gapless in the strong interaction regime. In the fractionalized long-range ordered phase both the charge compressibility and the spin susceptibility are universal scaling functions of temperature.