Recent developments in the density-functional theory of electron correlations in many-body lattice models are reviewed. The theoretical framework of lattice density-functional theory (LDFT) is briefly recalled, giving emphasis to its universality and to the central role played by the single-particle density-matrix γ . The Hubbard model and the Anderson single-impurity model are considered as relevant explicit problems for the applications. Real-space and reciprocal-space approximations to the fundamental interaction-energy functional W [ γ ] are introduced, in the framework of which the most important ground-state properties are derived. The predictions of LDFT are contrasted with available exact analytical results and state-of-the-art numerical calculations. Thus, the goals and limitations of the method are discussed.
Recent developments in the density-functional theory of electron correlations in many-body lattice models are reviewed. The theoretical framework of lattice density-functional theory (LDFT) is briefly recalled, giving emphasis to its universality and to the central role played by the single-particle density-matrix γ . The Hubbard model and the Anderson single-impurity model are considered as relevant explicit problems for the applications. Real-space and reciprocal-space approximations to the fundamental interaction-energy functional W [ γ ] are introduced, in the framework of which the most important ground-state properties are derived. The predictions of LDFT are contrasted with available exact analytical results and state-of-the-art numerical calculations. Thus, the goals and limitations of the method are discussed.
The Hubbard model is investigated in the framework of lattice density functional theory (LDFT). The single-particle density matrix ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{ij}}$ with respect to the lattice sites is considered as the basic variable of the many-body problem. A new approximation to the interaction-energy functional $W[\ensuremath{\gamma}]$ is proposed which is based on its scaling properties and which recovers exactly the limit of strong electron correlations at half-band filling. In this way, a more accurate description of W is obtained throughout the domain of representability of ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{ij}},$ including the crossover from weak to strong correlations. As examples of applications results are given for the ground-state energy, charge-excitation gap, and charge susceptibility of the Hubbard model in one-, two-, and three-dimensional lattices. The performance of the method is demonstrated by comparison with available exact solutions, with numerical calculations, and with LDFT using a simpler dimer ansatz for W. Goals and limitations of the different approximations are discussed.
In this Thesis, we develop and apply an accurate method to determine the ground-state properties of strongly-correlated electrons in the framework of lattice model Hamiltonians. In lattice density-functional theory (LDFT) the basic variable is the one-particle density matrix γ. From a generalized HK theorem, the ground state energy Egs[γgs] = minγ E[γ] is obtained by minimizing the energy-functional E[γ] over all the physical or representable γ. The energy functional can be divided into two contributions: the kinetic-energy functional T [γ], which linear dependence on γ is exactly known, and the correlation-energy functional W [γ], which dependence on γ is not explicitly known. Finding accurate approximations for W [γ] constitutes the actual challenge of this thesis. Part of this work is based on previous studies which derive an approximation of W [γ] for the Hubbard Hamiltonian based on scaling hypothesis and an exact analytical results for the Hubbard dimer. However, this approach is limited to spin independent and homogeneous systems. In order to extend the scope of LDFT, we have developed three different approaches to derive W [γ] in order to study broken symmetry problems. First we extend the previous scaling functional to system having charge transfer. By a systematic study of the dependence of W [γ] on the charge distribution we find similar scaling properties as for the homogeneous case. An extension to the Hubbard model on bipartite lattices is then derived and applied to finite and infinite systems with repulsive and attractive interactions. The high accuracy of this functional is demonstrated. Nevertheless, this approach is difficult to transfer to more complex systems, since the calculation of W [γ] applies to the system as a whole. To overcome this problem, we derive another approximation based on local scaling properties. This functional is formulated on-site so that it can be applied to any ordered or disordered Hamiltonian with on-site interaction. As applications we study the metal-insulator transition in the ionic Hubbard model in oneand two-dimensions, as well as the one-dimensional Hubbard chain with first and second nearest neighbor hoppings. Finally, we develop a numerical approach of W [γ], on the basis on exact diagonalizations of an effective many-body Hamiltonian corresponding to a cluster surrounded by an effective medium. This effective Hamiltonian depends on the density matrix γ and allows to derive approximation to W [γ] which improve systematically with increasing cluster size. The formulation is spin-dependent and allows a straightforward generalization to multi-orbital correlated systems such spd-Hamiltonians. In addition it take into account the effects of short-range charge and spin fluctuations in the functional. The accuracy of the method is demonstrated for the Hubbard model by comparison with the Bethe-Ansatz solution (1D) and quantum Monte Carlo simulations (2D). Finally, an outlook or relevant future developments of the theory is provided.
A density-functional theory (DFT) of lattice fermion models is presented, which uses the single-particle density matrix ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{ij}}$ as basic variable. A simple, explicit approximation to the interaction-energy functional $W[\ensuremath{\gamma}]$ of the Hubbard model is derived from exact dimer results, scaling properties of $W[\ensuremath{\gamma}]$ and known limits. Systematic tests on the one-dimensional chain show a remarkable agreement with the Bethe-ansatz exact solution for all interaction regimes and band fillings. New results are obtained for the ground-state energy and charge-excitation gap in two dimensions. A successful description of strong electron correlations within DFT is achieved.
The attractive Hubbard model is investigated in the framework of lattice density-functional theory (LDFT). The ground-state energy E=T+W is regarded as a functional of the single-particle density matrix ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{ij}$ with respect to the lattice sites, where $T[\ensuremath{\gamma}]$ represents the kinetic and crystal-field energies and $W[\ensuremath{\gamma}]$ the interaction energy. Aside from the exactly known functional $T[\ensuremath{\gamma}]$, we propose a simple scaling approximation to $W[\ensuremath{\gamma}]$, which is based on exact analytic results for the attractive Hubbard dimer and on a scaling hypothesis within the domain of representability of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$. As applications, we consider one-, two-, and three-dimensional finite and extended bipartite lattices having homogeneous or alternating onsite energy levels. In addition, the Bethe lattice is investigated as a function of coordination number. Results are given for the kinetic, Coulomb, and total energies, as well as for the density distribution ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{ii}$, nearest-neighbor bond order ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{ij}$, and pairing energy $\ensuremath{\Delta}{E}_{p}$, as a function of the interaction strength ∣U∣/t, onsite potential $\ensuremath{\varepsilon}/t$, and band filling n=Ne/Na. Remarkable even-odd and super-even oscillations of $\ensuremath{\Delta}{E}_{p}$ are observed in finite rings as a function of band filling. Comparison with exact Lanczos diagonalizations and density-matrix renormalization-group calculations shows that LDFT yields a very good quantitative description of the properties of the model in the complete parameter range, thus providing a significant improvement over the mean-field approaches. Goals and limitations of the method are discussed.
The Hubbard model is investigated in the framework of lattice density functional theory (LDFT). It is considered that the interaction energy functional w[γij,S] of the Hubbard model is investigated as a function of the single-particle density matrix γij with respect to the lattice sites, and total spin S. Exact numerical results are obtained for w[γij,S] on rings, where γij=γ12 for all nearest neighbors. The properties of w[γij,S] are discussed in the limits of weak (γ012) and strong (γ∞ij) electronic correlations, and in the crossover region γ∞12γ12γ012. Scaling of w[γij,S] in units of the uncorrelated energy w0[γ0ij,S] shows a pseudo-universal behavior as a function of g12=(γ12-γ∞12)/(γ012-γ∞12). In addition, The functional dependence of w[γij,S] is analyzed for different S.
A density-functional theory for many-body lattice models is considered in which the single-particle density matrix ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{ij}}$ is the basic variable. Eigenvalue equations are derived for solving Levy's constrained search of the interaction energy functional $W[{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{ij}}].$ $W[{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{ij}}]$ is expressed as the sum of Hartree-Fock energy ${E}_{\mathrm{HF}}[{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{ij}}]$ and the correlation energy ${E}_{C}[{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{ij}}].$ Exact results are obtained for ${E}_{C}({\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{12})$ of the Hubbard model on various periodic lattices, where ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{ij}}={\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{12}$ for all nearest neighbors i and j. The functional dependence of ${E}_{C}({\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{12})$ is analyzed by varying the number of sites Na, band filling Ne, and lattice structure. The infinite one-dimensional chain and one-, two-, or three-dimensional finite clusters with periodic boundary conditions are considered. The properties of ${E}_{C}({\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{12})$ are discussed in the limits of weak $({\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{12}\ensuremath{\simeq}{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{12}^{0})$ and strong $({\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{12}\ensuremath{\simeq}{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{12}^{\ensuremath{\infty}})$ electronic correlations, and in the crossover region $({\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{12}^{\ensuremath{\infty}}<~{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{12}<~{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{12}^{0}).$ Using an appropriate scaling we observe that ${\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}_{C}{(g}_{12}{)=E}_{C}{/E}_{\mathrm{HF}}$ has a pseudo-universal behavior as a function of ${g}_{12}=({\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{12}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{12}^{\ensuremath{\infty}})/({\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{12}^{0}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{12}^{\ensuremath{\infty}}).$ The fact that ${\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}_{C}{(g}_{12})$ depends weakly on Na,Ne, and lattice structure suggests that the correlation energy of extended systems could be obtained quite accurately from finite-cluster calculations. Finally, the behaviors of ${E}_{C}({\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{12})$ for repulsive (U>0) and attractive (U<0) interactions are contrasted.