Electronic reconstruction in correlated electron heterostructures

Electronic phase behavior in correlated-electron systems is a fundamental problem of condensed matter physics. We argue here that the change in the phase behavior near the surface and interface, i.e., electronic reconstruction, is the fundamental issue of the correlated-electron surface or interface science. Beyond its importance to basic science, understanding of this behavior is crucial for potential devices exploiting the novel properties of the correlated systems. We present a general overview of the field, and then illustrate the general concepts by theoretical studies of the model heterostructures comprised of a Mott-insulator and a band-insulator, which show that spin (and orbital) orderings in thin heterostructures are generically different from the bulk and that the interface region, about three-unit-cell wide, is always metallic, demonstrating that electronic reconstruction generally occurs. Predictions for photoemission experiments are made to show how the electronic properties change as a function of position, and the magnetic phase diagram is determined as a function of temperature, number of layers, and interaction strength. Future directions for research are also discussed.