Dielectric breakdown of Mott insulators in dynamical mean-field theory

Abstract

Using nonequilibrium dynamical mean-field theory, we compute the time evolution of the current in a Mott insulator after a strong electric field is turned on. We observe the formation of a quasistationary state in which the current is almost time independent although the system is constantly excited. At moderately strong fields this state is stable for quite long times. The stationary current exhibits a threshold behavior as a function of the field, in which the threshold increases with the Coulomb interaction and vanishes as the metal-insulator transition is approached.