Variational Study of the Spin-Gap Phase of the One-Dimensional t-J Model

Abstract

We propose a correlated spin-singlet-pairs wave function to describe the spin-gap phase of the one-dimensional $t-J$ model at low density. Adding a Jastrow factor with a variational parameter, $\nu$, first introduced by Hellberg and Mele, is shown to correctly describe the long-range behavior expected for the Luther-Emery phase. Using the variational Monte Carlo method we establish a relation between $\nu$ and the Luttinger exponent $K_\rho$, $K_\rho=\frac{1}{2\nu}$.