Spectral function of a quarter-filled one-dimensional CDW insulator

Abstract

We consider a one-dimensional charge density wave (CDW) insulator formed by Umklapp processes in a quarter-filled band. The spectrum of the model consists of gapless, uncharged excitations carrying spin $\pm 1/2$ (spinons) and gapped, spinless excitations carrying charge $\pm e/2$ (solitons and antisolitons). We calculate the low-energy behaviour of the single-electron Green's function at zero temperature. The spectral function exhibits a rather featureless scattering continuum of two solitons and many spinons. The theory predicts that the gap observed by Angle Resolved Photoemission (ARPES) is twice the activation gap in the dc conductivity. We comment on possible applications to ${\rm PrBa_2Cu_3O_7}$ and to the Bechgaard salts.