English

On confined fractional charges: a simple model

Strongly Correlated Electrons 2007-05-23 v1

Abstract

We address the question whether features known from quantum chromodynamics (QCD) can possibly also show up in solid-state physics. It is shown that spinless fermions of charge ee on a checkerboard lattice with nearest-neighbor repulsion provide for a simple model of confined fractional charges. After defining a proper vacuum the system supports excitations with charges ±e/2\pm e/2 attached to the ends of strings. There is a constant confining force acting between the fractional charges. It results from a reduction of vacuum fluctuations and a polarization of the vacuum in the vicinity of the connecting strings.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0604666,
  title  = {On confined fractional charges: a simple model},
  author = {F. Pollmann and P. Fulde},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0604666},
  year   = {2007}
}

Comments

5 pages, 3 figures