A numerical study of the staggered-flux and chiral orders in the t-J model

Motivated by a recent mean-field theory study on the t-J model [Phys. Rev. Lett. 84 (2000) 3958] we look for signatures of the staggered-flux phase in the current current correlation. In a system with two holes on a 32-site l attice, we find that this correlation function exhibits a staggered-flux pa ttern. This is in complete agreement with the mean-field study, and strongl y suggests that the staggered-flux phase is a key ingredient in the t-J mod el. We further show that this staggered-flux pattern does not exist in a st ate where the holes repel each other. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All ri ghts reserved.