arXiv subjects

A. Toschi

Publications and source records attributed to A. Toschi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Impact of nonlocal correlations over different energy scales: A Dynamical Vertex Approximation study

In this paper, we investigate how nonlocal correlations affect, selectively, the physics of correlated electrons over different energy scales, from the Fermi level to the band-edges. This goal is achieved by applying a diagrammatic extension of dynamical mean field theory (DMFT), the dynamical vertex approximation (D$Γ$A), to study several spectral and thermodynamic properties of the unfrustrated Hubbard model in two and three dimensions. Specifically, we focus first on the low-energy regime by computing the electronic scattering rate and the quasiparticle mass renormalization for decreasing temperatures at a fixed interaction strength. This way, we obtain a precise characterization of the several steps, through which the Fermi-liquid physics is progressively destroyed by nonlocal correlations. Our study is then extended to a broader energy range, by analyzing the temperature behavior of the kinetic and potential energy, as well as of the corresponding energy distribution functions. Our findings allow us to identify a smooth, but definite evolution of the nature of nonlocal correlations by increasing interaction: They either increase or decrease the kinetic energy w.r.t. DMFT depending on the interaction strength being weak or strong, respectively. This reflects the corresponding evolution of the ground state from a nesting-driven (Slater) to a superexchange-driven (Heisenberg) antiferromagnet (AF), whose fingerprints are, thus, recognizable in the spatial correlations of the paramagnetic phase. Finally, a critical analysis of our numerical results of the potential energy at the largest interaction allows us to identify possible procedures to improve the ladder-based algorithms adopted in the dynamical vertex approximation.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Effective magnetic correlations in hole-doped graphene nanoflakes

The magnetic properties of zig-zag graphene nanoflakes (ZGNF) are investigated within the framework of the dynamical mean-field theory. At half-filling and for realistic values of the local interaction, the ZGNF is in a fully compensated antiferromagnetic (AF) state, which is found to be robust against temperature fluctuations. Introducing charge carriers in the AF background drives the ZGNF metallic and stabilizes a magnetic state with a net uncompensated moment at low temperature. The change in magnetism is ascribed to the delocalization of the doped holes in the proximity of the edges, which mediate ferromagnetic correlations between the localized magnetic moments. Depending on the hole concentration, the magnetic transition may display a pronounced hysteresis over a wide range of temperature, indicating the coexistence of magnetic states with different symmetry. This suggests the possibility of achieving the electrostatic control of the magnetic state of ZGNFs to realize a switchable spintronic device.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Parquet decomposition calculations of the electronic self-energy

The parquet decomposition of the self-energy into classes of diagrams, those associated with specific scattering processes, can be exploited for different scopes. In this work, the parquet decomposition is used to unravel the underlying physics of non-perturbative numerical calculations. We show the specific example of dynamical mean field theory (DMFT) and its cluster extensions (DCA) applied to the Hubbard model at half-filling and with hole doping: These techniques allow for a simultaneous determination of two-particle vertex functions and self-energies, and hence, for an essentially "exact" parquet decomposition at the single-site or at the cluster level. Our calculations show that the self-energies in the underdoped regime are dominated by spin scattering processes, consistent with the conclusions obtained by means of the fluctuation diagnostics approach [Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 236402 (2015)]. However, differently from the latter approach, the parquet procedure displays important changes with increasing interaction: Even for relatively moderate couplings, well before the Mott transition, singularities appear in different terms, with the notable exception of the predominant spin-channel. We explain precisely how these singularities, which partly limit the utility of the parquet decomposition, and - more generally - of parquet-based algorithms, are never found in the fluctuation diagnostics procedure. Finally, by a more refined analysis, we link the occurrence of the parquet singularities in our calculations to a progressive suppression of charge fluctuations and the formation of an RVB state, which are typical hallmarks of a pseudogap state in DCA.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Woptic: optical conductivity with Wannier functions and adaptive k-mesh refinement

We present an algorithm for the adaptive tetrahedral integration over the Brillouin zone of crystalline materials, and apply it to compute the optical conductivity, dc conductivity, and thermopower. For these quantities, whose contributions are often localized in small portions of the Brillouin zone, adaptive integration is especially relevant. Our implementation, the woptic package, is tied into the wien2wannier framework and allows including a many-body self energy, e.g. from dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT). Wannier functions and dipole matrix elements are computed with the DFT package Wien2k and Wannier90. For illustration, we show DFT results for fcc-Al and DMFT results for the correlated metal SrVO$_3$.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2015

Dynamical vertex approximation for the two-dimensional Hubbard model

Recently, diagrammatic extensions of dynamical mean field theory (DMFT) have been proposed for including short- and long-range correlations beyond DMFT on an equal footing. We employ one of these, the dynamical vertex approximation (D$Γ$A), and study the two-dimensional Hubbard model on a square lattice. We define two transition lines in the phase diagram which correspond, respectively, to the opening of the gap in the nodal direction and throughout the Fermi surface. Our self-energy data show that the evolution between the two regimes occurs in a gradual way (crossover) and also that at low enough temperatures the whole Fermi surface is always gapped. Furthermore, we present a comparison of our D$Γ$A calculations at a parameter set where data obtained by other techniques are available.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Dynamical vertex approximation in its parquet implementation: application to Hubbard nano-rings

We have implemented the dynamical vertex approximation (D$Γ$A) in its full parquet-based version to include spatial correlations on all length scales and in {\sl all} scattering channels. The algorithm is applied to study the electronic self-energies and the spectral properties of finite-size one-dimensional Hubbard models with periodic boundary conditions (nanoscopic Hubbard rings). From a methodological point of view, our calculations and their comparison to the results obtained within dynamical mean-field theory, plain parquet approximation, and the exact numerical solution, allow us to evaluate the performance of the D$Γ$A algorithm in the most challenging situation of low dimensions. From a physical perspective, our results unveil how non-local correlations affect the spectral properties of nanoscopic systems of various sizes in different regimes of interaction strength.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Fate of the false Mott-Hubbard transition in two dimensions

We have studied the impact of non-local electronic correlations at all length scales on the Mott-Hubbard metal-insulator transition in the unfrustrated two-dimensional Hubbard model. Combining dynamical vertex approximation, lattice quantum Monte-Carlo and variational cluster approximation, we demonstrate that scattering at long-range fluctuations, i.e., Slater-like paramagnons, opens a spectral gap at weak-to-intermediate coupling -- irrespectively of the preformation of localized or short-ranged magnetic moments. This is the reason, why the two-dimensional Hubbard model is insulating at low enough temperatures for any (finite) interaction and no Mott-Hubbard transition is observed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Fluctuation diagnostics of the electron self-energy: Origin of the pseudogap physics

We demonstrate how to identify which physical processes dominate the low-energy spectral functions of correlated electron systems. We obtain an unambiguous classification through an analysis of the equation of motion for the electron self-energy in its charge, spin and particle-particle representations. Our procedure is then employed to clarify the controversial physics responsible for the appearance of the pseudogap in correlated systems. We illustrate our method by examining the attractive and repulsive Hubbard model in two-dimensions. In the latter, spin fluctuations are identified as the origin of the pseudogap, and we also explain why $d-$wave pairing fluctuations play a marginal role in suppressing the low-energy spectral weight, independent of their actual strength.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

On the separability of dynamical and non-local correlations in three dimensions

While second-order phase transitions always cause strong non-local fluctuations, their effect on spectral properties crucially depends on the dimensionality. For the important case of three dimensions, we show that the electron self-energy is well separable into a local dynamical part and static non-local contributions. In particular, our non-perturbative many-body calculations for the 3D Hubbard model at different fillings demonstrate that the quasi-particle weight remains essentially momentum-independent, also in the presence of overall large non-local corrections to the self-energy. Relying on this insight we propose a "space-time-separated" scheme for many-body perturbation theory that is up to ten times more efficient than current implementations. Besides these far-reaching implications for state-of-the-art electronic structure schemes, our analysis will also provide guidance to the quest of going beyond them.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Bands, resonances, edge singularities and excitons in core level spectroscopy investigated within the dynamical mean field theory

Using a recently developed impurity solver we exemplify how dynamical mean field theory captures band excitations, resonances, edge singularities and excitons in core level x-ray absorption (XAS) and core level photo electron spectroscopy (cPES) on metals, correlated metals and Mott insulators. Comparing XAS at different values of the core-valence interaction shows how the quasiparticle peak in the absence of core-valence interactions evolves into a resonance of similar shape, but different origin. Whereas XAS is rather insensitive to the metal insulator transition, cPES can be used, due to nonlocal screening, to measure the amount of local charge fluctuation.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

From infinite to two dimensions through the functional renormalization group

We present a novel scheme for an unbiased and non-perturbative treatment of strongly correlated fermions. The proposed approach combines two of the most successful many-body methods, i.e., the dynamical mean field theory (DMFT) and the functional renormalization group (fRG). Physically, this allows for a systematic inclusion of non-local correlations via the flow equations of the fRG, after the local correlations are taken into account non-perturbatively by the DMFT. To demonstrate the feasibility of the approach, we present numerical results for the two-dimensional Hubbard model at half-filling.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Effective crystal field and Fermi surface topology: a comparison of d- and dp-orbital models

The effective crystal field in multi-orbital correlated materials can be either enhanced or reduced by electronic correlations with crucial consequences for the topology of the Fermi surface and, hence, on the physical properties of these systems. In this respect, recent local density approximation (LDA) plus dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT) studies of Ni-based heterostructure have shown contradicting results, depending on whether the less correlated $p$-orbitals are included or not. We investigate the origin of this problem and identify the key parameters controlling the Fermi surface properties of these systems. Without the $p$-orbitals the model is quarter filled, while the $d$ manifold moves rapidly towards half-filling when the $p$-orbitals are included. This implies that the local Hund's exchange, while rather unimportant for the former case, can play a predominant role in controlling the orbital polarization for the extended basis-set by favoring the formation of a larger local magnetic moment.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Correlation effects in transport properties of interacting nanostructures

We discuss how to apply many-body methods to correlated nanoscopic systems, and provide general criteria of validity for a treatment at the dynamical mean field theory (DMFT) approximation level, in which local correlations are taken into account, while non-local ones are neglected. In this respect, we consider one of the most difficult cases for DMFT, namely for a quasi-one-dimensional molecule such as a benzene ring. The comparison against a numerically exact solution shows that non-local spatial correlations are relevant only in the limit of weak coupling between the molecule and the metallic leads and of low inter-atomic connectivity, otherwise DMFT provides a quantitative description of the system. As an application we investigate the role of correlations on electronic transport in quantum junctions, and we show that a local Mott-Hubbard crossover is a robust phenomenon in sharp nanoscopic contacts.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

One-particle irreducible functional approach - a new route to diagrammatic extensions of DMFT

We present an approach which is based on the one-particle irreducible (1PI) generating functional formalism and includes electronic correlations on all length-scales beyond the local correlations of dynamical mean field theory (DMFT). This formalism allows us to unify aspects of the dynamical vertex approximation (D\GammaA) and the dual fermion (DF) scheme, yielding a consistent formulation of non-local correlations at the one- and two-particle level beyond DMFT within the functional integral formalism. In particular, the considered approach includes one-particle reducible contributions from the three- and more-particle vertices in the dual fermion approach, as well as some diagrams not included in the ladder version of D\GammaA. To demonstrate the applicability and physical content of the 1PI approach, we compare the diagrammatics of 1PI, DF and D\GammaA, as well as the numerical results of these approaches for the half-filled Hubbard model in two dimensions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Poor Man's Understanding of Kinks Originating from Strong Electronic Correlations

By means of dynamical mean field theory calculations, it was recently discovered that kinks generically arise in strongly correlated systems, even in the absence of external bosonic degrees of freedoms such as phonons. However, the physical mechanism behind these kinks remained unclear. On the basis of the perturbative and numerical renormalization group theory, we herewith identify these kinks as the effective Kondo energy scale of the interacting lattice system which is shown to be smaller than the width of the central peak.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Mott-Hubbard transition in V2O3 revisited

The isostructural metal-insulator transition in Cr-doped V2O3 is the textbook example of a Mott-Hubbard transition between a paramagnetic metal and a paramagnetic insulator. We review recent theoretical calculations as well as experimental findings which shed new light on this famous transition. In particular, the old paradigm of a doping-pressure equivalence does not hold, and there is a microscale phase separation for Cr-doped V2O3.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Divergent Precursors of the Mott-Hubbard Transition at the Two-Particle Level

Identifying the fingerprints of the Mott-Hubbard metal-insulator transition may be quite elusive in correlated metallic systems if the analysis is limited to the single particle level. However, our dynamical mean-field calculations demonstrate that the situation changes completely if the frequency dependence of the two-particle vertex functions is considered: The first non-perturbative precursors of the Mott physics are unambiguously identified well inside the metallic regime by the divergence of the local Bethe-Salpeter equation in the charge channel. At low temperatures this occurs in the region where incoherent high-energy features emerge in the spectral function, while at high temperatures it is traceable up to the atomic-limit.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Spin state of negative charge-transfer material SrCoO3

We employ the combination of the density functional and the dynamical mean-field theory (LDA+DMFT) to investigate the electronic structure and magnetic properties of SrCoO3, monocrystal of which were prepared recently. Our calculations lead to a ferromagnetic metal in agreement with experiment. We find that, contrary to some suggestions, the local moment in SrCoO3 does not arise from intermediate spin state, but is a result of coherent superposition of many different atomic states. We discuss how attribution of magnetic response to different atomic states in solids with local moments can be quantified.

cond-mat.str-el↗