The induced charge in a Frohlich polaron: Sum rule and spatial extent

Abstract

Within the path integral formalism, we derive exact expressions for correlation functions measuring the lattice charge induced by an electron and associated polarization in Frohlich polaron problem. We prove that a sum rule for the total induced charge, already obtained within approximated approaches is indeed exact. As a consequence the total induced charge is shown rigorously to be temperature independent. In addition we perform path integral Monte Carlo calculations of the correlation functions and we compare with variational results based on Feynman method. As the temperature increases the polaron radius decreases. On the other hand at high temperatures the electron motion is not hindered by the lattice. These apparently contradictory results are discussed.