Density-Functional Theory (DFT), although widely used and very successful in the calculation of several observables, fails to correctly describe strongly correlated materials. In the first part of this work we, therefore, introduce reduced-density-matrix-functional theory (RDMFT) which is one possible way to treat electron correlation beyond DFT. Within this theory the one-body reduced density matrix (1-RDM) is used as the basic variable. Our main interest is the calculation of the fundamental gap which proves very problematic within DFT. In order to calculate the fundamental gap we generalize RDMFT to fractional particle numbers M by describing the system as an ensemble of an N and an N+1 particle system (with N≤ M≤N+1). For each fixed particle number, M, the total energy is minimized with respect to the natural orbitals and their occupation numbers. This leads to the total energy as a function of M. The derivative of this function with respect to the particle number has a discontinuity at integer particle number which is identical to the gap. In addition, we investigate the necessary and sufficient conditions for the 1-RDM of a system with fractional particle number to be N-representable. Numerical results are presented for alkali atoms, small molecules, and periodic systems. Another problem within DFT is the description of non-relativistic many- electron systems in the presence of magnetic fields. It requires the paramagnetic current density and the spin magnetization to be used as basic variables besides the electron density. However, electron-gas-based functionals of current-spin-density-functional Theory (CSDFT) exhibit derivative discontinuities as a function of the magnetic field whenever a new Landau level is occupied, which makes them difficult to use in practice. Since the appearance of Landau levels is, intrinsically, an orbital effect it is appealing to use orbital-dependent functionals. We have developed a CSDFT version of the optimized effective potential (OEP) method which allows for the use of explicitly orbital-dependent functionals in the context of CSDFT. We present the derivation of corresponding equations and show results for a quantum dot in external magnetic fields in the second part of this thesis.Density-Functional Theory (DFT), although widely used and very successful in the calculation of several observables, fails to correctly describe strongly correlated materials. In the first part of this work we, therefore, introduce reduced-density-matrix-functional theory (RDMFT) which is one possible way to treat electron correlation beyond DFT. Within this theory the one-body reduced density matrix (1-RDM) is used as the basic variable. Our main interest is the calculation of the fundamental gap which proves very problematic within DFT. In order to calculate the fundamental gap we generalize RDMFT to fractional particle numbers M by describing the system as an ensemble of an N and an N+1 particle system (with N≤ M≤N+1). For each fixed particle number, M, the total energy is minimized with respect to the natural orbitals and their occupation numbers. This leads to the total energy as a function of M. The derivative of this function with respect to the particle number has a discontinuity at integer particle number which is identical to the gap. In addition, we investigate the necessary and sufficient conditions for the 1-RDM of a system with fractional particle number to be N-representable. Numerical results are presented for alkali atoms, small molecules, and periodic systems. Another problem within DFT is the description of non-relativistic many- electron systems in the presence of magnetic fields. It requires the paramagnetic current density and the spin magnetization to be used as basic variables besides the electron density. However, electron-gas-based functionals of current-spin-density-functional Theory (CSDFT) exhibit derivative discontinuities as a function of the magnetic field whenever a new Landau level is occupied, which makes them difficult to use in practice. Since the appearance of Landau levels is, intrinsically, an orbital effect it is appealing to use orbital-dependent functionals. We have developed a CSDFT version of the optimized effective potential (OEP) method which allows for the use of explicitly orbital-dependent functionals in the context of CSDFT. We present the derivation of corresponding equations and show results for a quantum dot in external magnetic fields in the second part of this thesis.

Jan 1, 20063 citations

Functional N-Representability in Density Matrix and Density Functional Theory

Eduardo V. Ludeña, Valentin V. Karasiev, Pedro Nieto

Progress in theoretical chemistry and physicsJan 1, 20030 citations

v-representability for systems with low degeneracy

Jiqiang Chen, Malcolm J. Stott

We consider the v-representability of the particle density for a noninteracting system of spinless fermions by introducing the idea of proper order of a set of energy levels. It is shown that if ${\mathit{E}}_{1}$ (\ensuremath{\lambda}), ${\mathit{E}}_{2}$ (\ensuremath{\lambda}), and ${\mathit{E}}_{3}$ (\ensuremath{\lambda}) are three energy levels associated with some local potential ${\mathit{V}}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}$(r) that is a continuous function of \ensuremath{\lambda}=(${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{1}$,${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{2}$,${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{3}$) over all possible points \ensuremath{\lambda}, where ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathit{i}}$ is the occupation number of the ith state and M=${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{1}$+${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{2}$+${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{3}$ is the total number of particles distributed over the three levels, then there must be at least one \ensuremath{\lambda} for which the three levels are in so-called proper order, in which the levels below the highest occupied level are filled. This result provides a basis for the proof of ensemble v-representability of some N-particle density for which the ground-state degeneracy of the system is no more than three. As examples, three- and two-dimensional central systems are examined, and an N-particle central density is shown to be ensemble v-representable for small N (N\ensuremath{\le}14 and N\ensuremath{\le}9 for three- and two-dimensional cases, respectively). The implications for density-functional theory are discussed.We consider the v-representability of the particle density for a noninteracting system of spinless fermions by introducing the idea of proper order of a set of energy levels. It is shown that if ${\mathit{E}}_{1}$(\ensuremath{\lambda}), ${\mathit{E}}_{2}$(\ensuremath{\lambda}), and ${\mathit{E}}_{3}$(\ensuremath{\lambda}) are three energy levels associated with some local potential ${\mathit{V}}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}$(r) that is a continuous function of \ensuremath{\lambda}=(${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{1}$,${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{2}$,${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{3}$) over all possible points \ensuremath{\lambda}, where ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathit{i}}$ is the occupation number of the ith state and M=${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{1}$+${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{2}$+${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{3}$ is the total number of particles distributed over the three levels, then there must be at least one \ensuremath{\lambda} for which the three levels are in so-called proper order, in which the levels below the highest occupied level are filled. This result provides a basis for the proof of ensemble v-representability of some N-particle density for which the ground-state degeneracy of the system is no more than three. As examples, three- and two-dimensional central systems are examined, and an N-particle central density is shown to be ensemble v-representable for small N (N\ensuremath{\le}14 and N\ensuremath{\le}9 for three- and two-dimensional cases, respectively). The implications for density-functional theory are discussed.

Physical Review ASep 1, 199134 citations

Density Matrices, Density Functional Theory and Quantum Monte Carlo Calculations

Norman Henry March

IMPERIAL COLLEGE PRESS eBooksDec 1, 19991 citation

v-representability for noninteracting systems

Jiqiang Chen, Malcolm J. Stott

A particle-density distribution is said to be v-representable if it is the ground-state density for some potential v(r). By developing the idea of proper order, proposed earlier [J. Chen and M. J. Stott, Phys. Rev. A 44, 2816 (1991)], to any number of energy levels which are involved in possible ground-state configurations, we show that any reasonable density with an arbitrary number of spinless fermions is either pure-state or ensemble v-representable. This result supports the general applicability of the Kohn-Sham method [Phys. Rev. 140, A1133 (1965)] in density-functional theory.A particle-density distribution is said to be v-representable if it is the ground-state density for some potential v(r). By developing the idea of proper order, proposed earlier [J. Chen and M. J. Stott, Phys. Rev. A 44, 2816 (1991)], to any number of energy levels which are involved in possible ground-state configurations, we show that any reasonable density with an arbitrary number of spinless fermions is either pure-state or ensemble v-representable. This result supports the general applicability of the Kohn-Sham method [Phys. Rev. 140, A1133 (1965)] in density-functional theory.

Physical Review AJan 1, 19939 citations

We consider the v-representability of the particle density for a noninteracting system of spinless fermions by introducing the idea of proper order of a set of energy levels. It is shown that if

{\mathit{E}}_{1}

(\ensuremath{\lambda}),

{\mathit{E}}_{2}

(\ensuremath{\lambda}), and

{\mathit{E}}_{3}

(\ensuremath{\lambda}) are three energy levels associated with some local potential ${\mathit{V}}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}$(r) that is a continuous function of \ensuremath{\lambda}=(${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{1}$,${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{2}$,${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{3}$) over all possible points \ensuremath{\lambda}, where ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathit{i}}$ is the occupation number of the ith state and M=${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{1}$+${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{2}$+${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{3}$ is the total number of particles distributed over the three levels, then there must be at least one \ensuremath{\lambda} for which the three levels are in so-called proper order, in which the levels below the highest occupied level are filled. This result provides a basis for the proof of ensemble v-representability of some N-particle density for which the ground-state degeneracy of the system is no more than three. As examples, three- and two-dimensional central systems are examined, and an N-particle central density is shown to be ensemble v-representable for small N (N\ensuremath{\le}14 and N\ensuremath{\le}9 for three- and two-dimensional cases, respectively). The implications for density-functional theory are discussed.