Respective Roles of Electron-Phonon and Electron-Electron Interactions in the Transport and Quasiparticle Properties ofSrVO3

Abstract

The spectral and transport properties of strongly correlated metals, such as SrVO3 (SVO), are widely attributed to electron-electron (𝑒−𝑒) interactions, with lattice vibrations (phonons) playing a secondary role. Here, using first-principles electron-phonon (𝑒-ph) and dynamical mean field theory calculations, we show that 𝑒-ph interactions play an essential role in SVO: they govern the electron scattering and resistivity in a wide temperature range down to 30 K, and induce an experimentally observed kink in the spectral function. In contrast, the 𝑒−𝑒 interactions control quasiparticle renormalization and low temperature transport, and enhance the 𝑒-ph coupling. We clarify the origin of the near 𝑇2 temperature dependence of the resistivity by analyzing the 𝑒−𝑒 and 𝑒-ph limited transport regimes. Our work disentangles the electronic and lattice degrees of freedom in a prototypical correlated metal, revealing the dominant role of 𝑒-ph interactions in SVO.