Fermion-spin transformation to implement the charge-spin separation.

Abstract

A fermion-spin transformation is used to implement the charge-spin separation, and is developed to study the low-dimensional t-J model. In this approach, the charge and spin degrees of freedom of the physical electron are separated, and the charge degree of freedom is represented by a spinless fermion while the spin degree of freedom is representd by a hard-core boson. The on-site local constraint for single occupancy is satisfied even in the mean-field approximation and the sum rule for the physical electron is obeyed. This approach can be applied to both one and two-dimensional systems. In the one-dimensional case, the spinon as well as the physical electron behave like Luttinger liquids. We have obtained a gapless charge and spin excitation spectrum, a good ground state energy, and a reasonable electron-momentum distribution within the mean-field approximation. The correct exponents of the correlation functions and momentum distribution are also obtained if the squeezing effect and rearrangement of the spin configurations are taken into account. In the two-dimensional case, within the mean-field approximation the magnetized flux state with a gap in the spinon spectrum has the lowest energy at half filling. The antiferromagnetic long-range order is destroyed by hole doping of the order \ensuremath{\sim}10-15 % for t/J=3-5 and a disordered flux state with gapless spinon spectrum becomes stable. The calculated specific heat is roughly consistent with observed results on copper oxide superconductors. The possible phase separation is also discussed at the mean-field level.