Finite-frequency optical absorption in 1D conductors and mott-hubbard insulators

The frequency-dependent conductivity is studied for the one-dimensional Hubbard model, using a selection rule, the Bethe ansatz, and symmetries associated with conservation laws. For densities where the system is metallic the absorption spectrum has two contributions, a Drude peak at {omega}=0 separated by a pseudogap from a broad absorption band whose lower edge is characterized by a nonclassical critical exponent. Our findings shed new light on the ''far infrared puzzle'' and other optical properties of metallic organic chain compounds. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.