Phase diagrams of the metallic zigzag carbon nanotube

Abstract

We investigate a metallic zigzag carbon nanotube by means of a Hubbard model, which includes both on-site and nearest-neighbor interactions. Assuming weak interactions, a renormalization group analysis of the equivalent two-leg ladder followed by bosonization and refermionization results in a Gross-Neveu model with an enlarged symmetry relative to the original Hamiltonian. For the undoped case the symmetry of the Gross-Neveu model is SO(8), but for the doped case the particle-hole symmetry is broken and the symmetry reduces to SO(6). Four ground-state phases are found in the undoped carbon nanotube with repulsive interactions, a $d$-wave Mott insulator, an $s$-wave Mott insulator, a $p$-density wave, and a charge density wave. The doped case has two ground-state phases, a $d$-wave superconductor and a phase where a $p$ density wave and a charge density wave coexist. We also explore the global phase diagram with a general interaction profile and find several additional states, including a chiral current phase where current flows around the nanotube along the zigzag bonds.