Finding free electron gas Green function in Fourier space

In summary, the conversation discusses the use of definitions and quotes from a book to explain the concept of a free electron gas. The speaker expresses confusion about the use of exponential terms and step functions in the equations, seeking clarification on how to deal with them. They then ask for help in understanding the concept in relation to the ground state of the system at a temperature of 0 Kelvin.
  • #1
kakaho345
5
0
Homework Statement
See below
Relevant Equations
See below
As in title:
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Plugging in the definition is straight forward, I am too lazy to type, I will just quote the book Fetter 1971:
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Up to here everything is very straight forward, in particular, since we are working on free electron gas, ##E=\hbar \omega##

However, I have no idea how to arrive here:
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I understand that ##e^{ik\cdot(x-x')}## is from terms like ##\psi=e^{ikx}c##, however, the term ##e^{-i\omega_k(t-t')}## the sign doesn't look right to me for the two time region should have different signs in the exponential. Also, I don't know how to deal with the exponential sandwiched between the field operator. The step function in time is from the two pieces of time regions, but I am not sure on the step function in k. I may be from the filled Fermi sea.

I understand this is a very simple question. However, I have been sitting whole day dealing with this. Any help will be appreciated.
 
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  • #2
You simply have to think about, how the ground state looks like! Note that at ##T=0## the system is in a pure state of lowest possible energy under the given constraints. First think what is the constraint here!
 

FAQ: Finding free electron gas Green function in Fourier space

What is the free electron gas Green function?

The free electron gas Green function, also known as the propagator, describes the probability amplitude for an electron to propagate from one point to another in a free electron gas. It is a fundamental concept in quantum many-body theory and solid-state physics, providing insights into the electronic properties of materials.

How do you define the Green function in Fourier space?

In Fourier space, the Green function is defined by taking the Fourier transform of the time-dependent Green function. For a free electron gas, the Fourier-transformed Green function depends on the wave vector k and the frequency ω, and it is typically expressed as G(k, ω) = [ħω - ε(k) + iη]⁻¹, where ε(k) is the energy dispersion relation for the free electrons and η is a small positive infinitesimal.

What is the significance of the small positive infinitesimal η in the Green function?

The small positive infinitesimal η ensures causality and proper convergence of the Green function. It shifts the poles of the Green function slightly off the real axis in the complex frequency plane, which helps in avoiding divergences and makes the mathematical treatment of the Green function more tractable.

How do you derive the Green function for a free electron gas in Fourier space?

To derive the Green function for a free electron gas in Fourier space, one starts with the time-dependent Green function and performs a Fourier transform with respect to both space and time. For a non-interacting electron gas, the Green function can be obtained using the equation of motion method or by solving the Dyson equation in the absence of interactions, leading to the expression G(k, ω) = [ħω - ε(k) + iη]⁻¹.

What role does the Green function play in understanding the properties of a free electron gas?

The Green function is crucial for understanding the electronic properties of a free electron gas, as it provides information about the density of states, spectral functions, and response functions. It also serves as a starting point for more complex calculations involving interactions, such as those in many-body perturbation theory and the study of quasiparticles and collective excitations in materials.

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