Fluctuation effects at the onset of $\bf 2k_F$ density wave order with two pairs of hot spots in two-dimensional metals

Abstract

We analyze quantum fluctuation effects at the onset of charge or spin density wave order in two-dimensional metals with an incommensurate nesting ($2k_F$) wave vector connecting two pairs of hot spots on the Fermi surface. We first compute the momentum and frequency dependence of the fermion self-energy near the hot spots to leading order in a perturbation expansion (one loop). Non-Fermi liquid behavior with a linear (in energy) quasi-particle decay rate and a logarithmically vanishing quasi-particle weight is obtained. The momentum dependence of the self-energy entails only finite renormalizations of the Fermi velocity and the Fermi surface curvature at the hot spots. The perturbative one-loop result is not self-consistent and casts doubt on the stability of the $2k_F$ quantum critical point. We construct a self-consistent solution of the one-loop equations with self-energy feedback, where the quantum critical point is stabilized rather than being destroyed by fluctuations, while the non-Fermi liquid behavior as found in the perturbative one-loop calculation is confirmed.