Functional Renormalization Group Approach for Inhomogeneous One-Dimensional Fermi Systems with Finite-Ranged Interactions

TL;DR

This paper develops an advanced functional renormalization group method for inhomogeneous one-dimensional Fermi systems with finite-range interactions, enabling detailed analysis of conductance and density oscillations in quantum point contacts.

Contribution

It introduces the extended coupled ladder approximation (eCLA) for fRG, allowing efficient treatment of spatially extended interactions in inhomogeneous systems.

Findings

eCLA stabilizes the fRG flow and converges for relevant length scales.

Finite-range interactions induce oscillatory conductance and Friedel-like density fluctuations.

The method enables analysis of crossover from quantum point contact to quantum dot regimes.

Abstract

We introduce an equilibrium formulation of the functional renormalization group (fRG) for inhomogeneous systems capable of dealing with spatially finite-ranged interactions. In the general third order truncated form of fRG, the dependence of the two-particle vertex is described by O(N^4) independent variables, where N is the dimension of the single-particle system. In a previous paper [Phys. Rev. B 89, 045128 (2014)], the so-called coupled-ladder approximation (CLA) was introduced and shown to admit a consistent treatment for models with a purely onsite interaction, reducing the vertex to O(N^2) independent variables. Here, we extend this scheme to the extended coupled ladder approximation (eCLA), which includes a spatially extended feedback between the individual channels, measured by a feedback length L, using O(N^2 L^2) independent variables for the vertex. We apply the eCLA to three types of one-dimensional models : First, to a quantum point contact (QPC) with a parabolic barrier top and short-ranged interactions. Here eCLA achieves convergence for L equal to the characteristic length l_x of the QPC. It also turns out that the additional feedback stabilizes the fRG-flow. This enables us, second, to study the crossover between a QPC and a quantum dot, again for a model with short-ranged interactions. Third, the enlarged feedback also enables the treatment of a finite-ranged interaction extending over up to L sites. Estimating the form of such a finite-ranged interaction in a QPC, we study its effects on the conductance and the density. For low densities and sufficiently large interaction ranges the conductance develops additional oscillatory features, and the corresponding density shows fluctuations that can be interpreted as Friedel oscillations arising from a renormalized barrier shape with a rather flat top and steep flanks.