Spectral function in the two-dimensional Hubbard model

The spectral function of a single hole in the two-dimensional Hubbard model is studied numerically through exact diagonalization for a nine-site cluster over a wide range of interaction strengths U. In the weak-interaction limit, the spectral function consists of sharp quasiparticle peaks corresponding to the allowed single-particle excitations of the noninteracting system. As the interaction strength increases, the spectral weight begins to spread over a large range of energies, and satellite structures appear at higher excitation energy. The band-narrowing effect and the quasiparticle weight are investigated. The results are discussed in connection with other analytical and numerical studies on the spectral function.