Checkerboard patterns in the t-J model

TL;DR

This paper investigates the emergence of checkerboard patterns in the t-J model using DMRG, finding that true checkerboards are not low-energy states but approximate patterns can be stabilized with weak external fields.

Contribution

It demonstrates that genuine checkerboard ground states are unlikely, but approximate patterns can be stabilized, clarifying the conditions for such charge arrangements in the t-J model.

Findings

Checkerboards with (pi,pi) background are not low energy states.

Weak external fields can stabilize striped charge density waves.

Approximate checkerboard patterns can form along stripes.

Abstract

Using the density matrix renormalization group, we study the possibility of real space checkerboard patterns arising as the ground states of the t-J model. We find that checkerboards with a commensurate (pi,pi) background are not low energy states and can only be stabilized with large external potentials. However, we find that striped states with charge density waves along the stripes can form approximate checkerboard patterns. These states can be stabilized with a very weak external field aligning and pinning the CDWs on different stripes.