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Journal of Mathematical Physics

Studies in Perturbation Theory. V. Some Aspects on the Exact Self-Consistent Field Theory

Per‐Olov Löwdin

Published Nov 1, 1962• 182 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The independent-particle model in the theory of many-particle systems is studied by means of the self-consistent-field (SCF) idea. After a review of the characteristic features of the Hartree and Hartree-Fock schemes, the extension of the SCF method developed by Brueckner is further refined by introducing the exact reaction operator containing all correlation effects. This operator is here simply defined by means of the partitioning technique, and, if the SCF potentials are derived from this operator, one obtains a formalism which is completely analogous to the Hartree scheme but which still renders the exact energy and the exact wave function. An elementary derivation of the linked-cluster theorem is given, and finally the inclusion of various symmetry properties is discussed.

DOI
10.1063/1.1703860

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Abstract. A simple and commonly employed approximate technique with which one can examine spatially disordered systems when strong electronic correlations are present is based on the use of real-space unrestricted self-consistent Hartree-Fock wave functions. In such an approach the disorder is treated exactly while the correlations are treated approximately. In this report we critique the success of this approximation by making comparisons between such solutions and the exact wave functions for the Anderson-Hubbard model. Due to the sizes of the complete Hilbert spaces for these problems, the comparisons are restricted to small one-dimensional chains, up to ten sites, and a 4x4 two-dimensional cluster, and at 1/2 filling these Hilbert spaces contain about 63,500 and 166 million states, respectively. We have completed these calculations both at and away from 1/2 filling. This approximation is based on a variational approach which minimizes the Hartree-Fock energy, and we have completed comparisons of the exact and Hartree-Fock energies. However, in order to assess the success of this approximation in reproducing ground-state correlations we have completed comparisons of the local charge and spin correlations, including the calculation of the overlap of the Hartree-Fock wave functions with those of the exact solutions. We find that this approximation reproduces the local charge densities to quite a high accuracy, but that the local spin correlations, as represented by 〈Si · Sj〉, are not as well represented. In addition to these comparisons, we discuss the properties of the spin degrees of freedom in the HF approximation, and where in the disorderinteraction phase diagram such physics may be important. PACS numbers: 71.27.+a,71.23.-k,71.10.-wCritiquing HF for the Anderson-Hubbard Model 2 1.

•Aug 4, 2013•5 citations
The independent-particle model in the theory of many-particle systems is studied by means of the self-consistent-field (SCF) idea. After a review of the characteristic features of the Hartree and Hartree-Fock schemes, the extension of the SCF method developed by Brueckner is further refined by introducing the exact reaction operator containing all correlation effects. This operator is here simply defined by means of the partitioning technique, and, if the SCF potentials are derived from this operator, one obtains a formalism which is completely analogous to the Hartree scheme but which still renders the exact energy and the exact wave function. An elementary derivation of the linked-cluster theorem is given, and finally the inclusion of various symmetry properties is discussed.
A general formulation of multiconfigurational self-consistent-field theory is given. The fundamental condition to be satisfied by the MMM occupied orbitals ${\ensuremath{\psi}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ of an $N(\ensuremath{\le}M)$-body system, in order that the total energy of one state be extremalized, is expressed in terms of the fundamental invariant $\mathbf{\ensuremath{\varrho}}=\ensuremath{\Sigma}{\ensuremath{\mu}=1}^{M}|{\ensuremath{\psi}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}〉〈{\ensuremath{\psi}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}|$. The condition placed on $\mathbf{\ensuremath{\varrho}}$ is of the same form as the condition on the fundamental invariant of the Hartree-Fock theory. Setting M=NM=NM=N, we derive the unrestricted Hartree-Fock equations from the condition on $\mathbf{\ensuremath{\varrho}}$. For M>NM>NM>N there are three freedoms one may take with the fundamental condition on $\mathbf{\ensuremath{\varrho}}$. Exploiting any or all of these freedoms yields alternative forms of the fundamental condition. This enables us to derive an effective one-body Hamiltonian which is the sum of a Hartree-type Hamiltonian and a correlation and exchange operator. For finite M>NM>NM>N, the one-body Hamiltonian contains a nonlocal exchange and correlation operator. This operator is defined in terms of the one- and two-body density matrices. The connection between the orbitals of this theory and those of the Hartree-Fock theory is explored. The theory as outlined here is applicable to any system of NNN identical particles, but our discussion is oriented towards electronic systems. The theory contains most self-consistent-field theories as special cases, and gives a basis for the self-consistent-field formulation of others.
A generalized self-consistent field (SCF) theory of many-particle systems is developed by modifying the usual functional relationship between energy and wave function. A parameter $\ensuremath{\xi}$, $0\ensuremath{\le}\ensuremath{\xi}\ensuremath{\le}1$, is thus introduced into the energy so that for $\ensuremath{\xi}=0$, the particles interact only with a self-consistent field, for $\ensuremath{\xi}=1$ the particles interact dynamically among themselves with the correct field, and for intermediate values of $\ensuremath{\xi}$ both SCF and dynamical interactions occur. A systematic development of the theory is given for time-independent and time-dependent probelms, for finite temperatures, and for both uniform and nonuniform systems. The derivative with respect to $\ensuremath{\xi}$ of the total energy, of free energy, is expressed in terms of the dielectric function and an improved version of the dielectric formulation of the many-body problem thereby obtained. A brief discussion of the advantages of the method, possible applications, and further generalizations or extensions is included.
The method of superposition of configurations, which provides a general solution of the quantum-mechanical many-particle problem (for fermions), is reformulated so that equations may be compared with those used in the Brueckner theory. Important differences occur in application to finite or nonuniform systems for which the Hartree-Fock or Brueckner self-consistent orbitals are not plane waves. In such cases nonvanishing single-particle matrix elements occur which cannot be described by the Brueckner formalism based on a two-particle operator. Equations for an effective two-particle operator, equivalent to the variational equations of the method of superposition of configurations, are derived for a basis of Hartree-Fock orbitals. At the expense of making the orbital basis dependent upon the effective two-particle operator, the orbital basis can be determined by a condition which is essentially that of the Brueckner method. This condition removes a class of matrix elements which do not necessarily vanish in the Hartree-Fock basis although they would be neglected to second order in a perturbation calculation starting from the Hartree-Fock wave function. The equations for the effective two-particle operator are formally the same in both cases but lead to different operators because of the different choice of basis. In neither case can the equations be written in terms of products of such operators, a formalism assumed in the Brueckner theory. It is shown that the Brueckner condition is not equivalent to the condition which would determine the best possible orbital basis for the form of wave function implied by the use of an effective operator dependent on two particles only. The argument of the present paper is limited to systems with a finite number of particles, since the variational principle used here is not applicable without modification to systems with an infinite number of particles.
Part 1 Fundamentals and examples: systems of identical particles second quantization for fermions second quantization for bosons unitary transformations and field operators example - the Hamiltonian of translationally invariant systems in second quantization density operators the Hartree-Fock approximation restricted Hartree-Fock approximation and the symmetry dilemma Hartree-Fock for translationally invariant systems the homogeneous electron gas in the Hartree-Fock approximation long-range correlations in the electron-gas - plasmons phonons superconductivity. Part 2 Green's functions: pictures the single-particle Green's function and the hierarchy of equations of motion. Part 3 Perturbation theory: time-dependent perturbation theory with adiabatic turning-on of the interaction particle and hole operators and Wick's theorem Feynman diagrams diagrammatic calculation of the vacuum amplitude an example - the Gell-Mann-Brueckner correlation energy of a dense electron gas diagrammatic calculation of the single-particle Green's function - Dyson's equation diagrammatic analysis of the Green's function G(kappa, omega) self-consistent perturbation theory, higher-order Hartree-Fock theory the quasi-particle concept diagrammatic calculation of the two-particle Green's function and the polarization propagator effective interaction and dressed vertices plasmons in higher order perturbation theory at finite temperatures. Part 4 Fermi liquid theory: introduction equilibrium properties transport equation and collective modes microscopic derivation of the Landau fermi liquid theory applications to the Kondo problem.
In treating a system of NNN antisymmetric particles, it is shown that, if the total Hamiltonian Hop{\mathcal{H}}_{\mathrm{op}}Hop​ is degenerate, the eigenstates of the operator used for classifying the corresponding degenerate states may be selected by means of a "projection operator" O\mathcal{O}O. If the total wave function is approximated by such a projection of a single determinant, the description of the system may be reduced to the ordinary Hartree-Fock scheme treating this determinant, if the original Hamiltonian is replaced by a complete Hamiltonian ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{\mathrm{op}}={\mathcal{O}}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}{\mathcal{H}}_{\mathrm{op}}\mathcal{O}$ containing also many-particle interactions. This approach corresponds to a "fixed" configurational interaction, but the scheme has preserved the physical simplicity and visuality of the Hartree-Fock approximation. The idea of "doubly filled" orbitals is abandoned, and the orbitals associated with different spins will automatically try to arrange themselves in such a way that particles having antiparallel spins will tend to avoid each other due to their mutual repulsion.
Abstract. A simple and commonly employed approximate technique with which one can examine spatially disordered systems when strong electronic correlations are present is based on the use of real-space unrestricted self-consistent Hartree-Fock wave functions. In such an approach the disorder is treated exactly while the correlations are treated approximately. In this report we critique the success of this approximation by making comparisons between such solutions and the exact wave functions for the Anderson-Hubbard model. Due to the sizes of the complete Hilbert spaces for these problems, the comparisons are restricted to small one-dimensional chains, up to ten sites, and a 4x4 two-dimensional cluster, and at 1/2 filling these Hilbert spaces contain about 63,500 and 166 million states, respectively. We have completed these calculations both at and away from 1/2 filling. This approximation is based on a variational approach which minimizes the Hartree-Fock energy, and we have completed comparisons of the exact and Hartree-Fock energies. However, in order to assess the success of this approximation in reproducing ground-state correlations we have completed comparisons of the local charge and spin correlations, including the calculation of the overlap of the Hartree-Fock wave functions with those of the exact solutions. We find that this approximation reproduces the local charge densities to quite a high accuracy, but that the local spin correlations, as represented by 〈Si · Sj〉, are not as well represented. In addition to these comparisons, we discuss the properties of the spin degrees of freedom in the HF approximation, and where in the disorderinteraction phase diagram such physics may be important. PACS numbers: 71.27.+a,71.23.-k,71.10.-wCritiquing HF for the Anderson-Hubbard Model 2 1.