Surface polaron formation in the Holstein model

Abstract

The effect of a solid-vacuum interface on the properties of a strongly coupled electron-phonon system is analyzed using dynamical mean-field theory to solve the Holstein model in a semi-infinite cubic lattice. Polaron formation is found to occur more easily, i.e., for a weaker electron-phonon coupling, on the surface than in the bulk. On the other hand, the metal-insulator transition associated with the binding of polarons takes place at a unique critical strength in the bulk and at the surface.