Hubbard Subbands and Superconductivity in the Infinite-Layer Nickelate

Abstract

An effective two-dimensional two-band model for infinite-layer nickelates consists of bands obtained from $d_{x^2-y^2}$ and $s$--like orbitals. We investigate whether it could be mapped onto a single-band Hubbard model and the filling of Hubbard bands. We find that both one-band physics and a Kondo-lattice regime emerge from the same two-orbital model, depending on the strength of electronic correlations and the filling of the itinerant $s$-band. Next we investigate one-particle excitations by changing the screening. First, for weak screening the strong correlations push electrons out of the $s$-band so that the undoped nickelate is similar to a cuprate. Second, for strong screening the $s$ and $d_{x^2-y^2}$ bands are both partly filled and weakly couple. Particularly in this latter regime mapping to a one-band model gives significant spectral weight transfer between the Hubbard subbands. Finally we point out that the superconducting phases may have either $d$-wave or $s$-wave symmetry.