Interacting one dimensional electron gas with open boundaries

TL;DR

This paper investigates the effects of open boundaries on interacting one-dimensional electron systems, extending Luttinger liquid theory, and explores implications for experiments and materials with boundary-induced phenomena.

Contribution

It extends the Haldane Luttinger liquid framework to finite chains with open boundaries and analyzes boundary effects on correlations and conductance.

Findings

Boundaries modify correlation functions in 1D electron systems.

Two-terminal conductance is calculated for finite chains.

Implications for quantum wires and quasi-1D materials are discussed.

Abstract

We discuss the properties of interacting electrons on a finite chain with open boundary conditions. We extend the Haldane Luttinger liquid description to these systems and study how the presence of the boundaries modifies various correlation functions. In view of possible experimental applications to quantum wires, we analyse how tunneling measurements can reveal the underlying Luttinger liquid properties. The two terminal conductance is calculated. We also point out possible applications to quasi one dimensional materials and study the effects of magnetic impurities.