Electron–phonon coupling in a two-dimensional inhomogeneous electron gas: consequencesfor surface spectral properties

Abstract

We investigate the coupling of an inhomogeneous electron system to phonons.The properties of an electronic system composed of a mixture of microscopicordered and disordered islands are changed fundamentally by a phonon mode. Inhigh-Tc cuprates, such a phase separation scenario is supported by recent STM and nuclearquadrupole resonance studies. We show that even a weak or moderate electron–phononcoupling can be sufficient to produce dramatic changes in the electronic state of theinhomogeneous electron gas. The spectral properties calculated in our approach provide anatural explanation of the low-energy nodal ARPES features and exhibit a novelnon-Fermi-liquid state stabilized through electron–phonon coupling.