Checkerboard patterns in the t-J model

Using the density matrix renormalization group, we study the possibility of real space checkerboard patterns arising as the ground states of the t-J model. We find that checkerboards with a commensurate (pi,pi) background are not low energy states and can only be stabilized with large external potentials. However, we find that striped states with charge density waves along the stripes can form approximate checkerboard patterns. These states can be stabilized with a very weak external field aligning and pinning the CDWs on different stripes.