Doublon formation by ions impacting a strongly correlated finite lattice system

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel mechanism for creating doublons in strongly correlated fermionic systems via energetic ion impact, verified through simulations, with potential applications in solids and optical lattices.

Contribution

It proposes and verifies a new method for fermionic doublon creation using ion impact, expanding control over strongly correlated systems.

Findings

Formation of a nonequilibrium steady state with homogeneous doublon distribution.

Doublon creation mechanism verified by exact diagonalization and Green functions.

Potential observability in solids with plasma contact and fermionic optical lattices.

Abstract

Strongly correlated systems of fermions have a number of exciting collective properties. Among them, the creation of a lattice that is occupied by doublons, i.e. two quantum particles with opposite spins, offers interesting electronic properties. In the past a variety of methods have been proposed to control doublon formation, both, spatially and temporally. Here, a novel mechanism is proposed and verified by exact diagonalization and nonequilibrium Green functions simulations---fermionic doublon creation by the impact of energetic ions. We report the formation of a nonequilibrium steady state with homogeneous doublon distribution. The effect should be observable in strongly correlated solids in contact with a high-pressure plasma and in fermionic atoms in optical lattices.