Holstein polaron

The Holstein Polaron

We describe a variational method to solve the Holstein model for an electron coupled to dynamical, quantum phonons on an infinite lattice. The variational space can be systematically expanded to achieve high accuracy with modest computational resources (12-digit accuracy for the 1d polaron energy at intermediate coupling). We compute ground and low-lying excited state properties of the model at...

Phonon spectral function of the Holstein polaron

The phonon spectral function of the one-dimensional Holstein model is obtained within weak and strong-coupling approximations based on analytical self-energy calculations. The characteristic excitations found in the limit of small charge-carrier density are related to the known (electronic) spectral properties of Holstein polarons such as the polaron band dispersion. Particular emphasis is laid...

Numerical solution of the Holstein polaron problem

Variational study of the Holstein polaron

The paper deals with the ground and the first excited state of the polaron in the one dimensional Holstein model. Various variational methods are used to investigate both the weak coupling and strong coupling cases, as well as the crossover regime between them. Two of the methods, which are presented here for the first time, introduce new elements to the understanding of the nature of the polar...

Dimensionality effects on the Holstein polaron

Based on a recently developed variational method, we explore the properties of the Holstein polaron on an infinite lattice in D dimensions, where 1 ≤ D ≤ 4. The computational method converges as a power law, so that highly accurate results can be achieved with modest resources. We present the most accurate ground state energy (with no small parameter) to date for polaron problems, 21 digits for...