Phase separation in the combined Falicov-Kimball and static Holstein model

TL;DR

This paper investigates how adding electron-phonon interactions affects phase separation in the Falicov-Kimball model, showing that strong enough interactions can eliminate phase separation, with implications for colossal magnetoresistance materials.

Contribution

It introduces an analysis of the stability of phase separation in the combined Falicov-Kimball and Holstein model under electron-phonon interactions.

Findings

Electron-phonon interaction destroys phase separation beyond a critical strength.

Phase separation is stable at low electron-phonon coupling.

Results may influence theories of colossal magnetoresistance materials.

Abstract

The Falicov-Kimball model has been known to phase separate when the correlation strength is large and the temperature is low. We examine the stability of phase separation under the influence of an additional electron-phonon interaction that tries to force the electron density to be homogeneous. We find that the electron-phonon interaction eventually destroys the phase-separated state once it becomes larger than some critical value. The results of this work may have an influence on theories of collossal magentoresistance materials.