We discuss the interplay between electronic correlations and an underlying superlattice structure in determining the period of charge density waves (CDW's), by considering a one-dimensional Hubbard model with a repeated (non-random) pattern of repulsive (U>0) and free (U=0) sites. Density matrix renormalization group diagonalization of finite systems (up to 120 sites) is used to calculate the charge-density correlation function and structure factor in the ground state. The modulation period can still be predicted through effective Fermi wavevectors, k_F*, and densities, and we have found that it is much more sensitive to electron (or hole) doping, both because of the narrow range of densities needed to go from q*=0 to \pi, but also due to sharp 2k_F*-4k_F* transitions; these features render CDW's more versatile for actual applications in heterostructures than in homogeneous systems.
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0604523,
title = {Modulation of charge-density waves by superlattice structures},
author = {Andre L Malvezzi and Thereza Paiva and Raimundo R dos Santos},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0604523},
year = {2009}
}