Wigner crystal versus fermionization for one-dimensional Hubbard models with and without long-range interactions

The ground state properties of the Hubbard model with or without long-range interactions in the regime with strongly repulsive on-site interactions are investigated by means of the exact diagonalization method. We show that the appearance of N-crests in the density profile of a trapped N-fermion system is a natural result of 'fermionization' between antiparallel-spin fermions in the strongly repulsive limit and cannot be taken as the only signature of the Wigner crystal phase, as the static structure factor does not show any signature of crystallization. In contrast, both the density distribution and the static structure factor of the Hubbard model with strong long-range interactions display clear signatures of the Wigner crystal phase. Our results indicate the important role of long-range interaction in the formation of the Wigner crystal phase.