Pairing in spin chains and spinless fermions with next-nearest neighbour interactions

Abstract: We investigate the phase diagrams of a one-dimensional lattice model of fermions and of a spin chain with interactions extending up to next-nearest neighbour range. In particular, we investigate the appearance of regions with dominant pairing physics in the presence of nearest-neighbour and next-nearest-neighbour interactions. Our analysis is based on analytical calculations in the classical limit, bosonization techniques and large-scale density-matrix renormalization group numerical simulations. The phase diagram, which is investigated in all relevant filling regimes, displays a remarkably rich collection of phases, including Luttinger liquids, phase separation, charge-density waves, bond-order phases, and exotic cluster Luttinger liquids with paired particles. In relation with recent studies, we show several emergent transition lines with a central charge $c = 3/2$ between the Luttinger-liquid and the cluster Luttinger liquid phases. These results could be experimentally investigated using highly-tunable quantum simulators.