Doped Mott insulator as the origin of heavy Fermion behavior in LiV2O4

We investigate the electronic structure of LiV2O4, for which heavy fermion behavior has been observed in various experiments, by the combination of the local density approximation and dynamical mean field theory. To obtain results at zero temperature, we employ the projective quantum Monte Carlo method as an impurity solver. Our results show that the strongly correlated a1g band is a lightly doped Mott insulator which -at low temperatures- shows a sharp (heavy) quasiparticle peak just above the Fermi level, which is consistent with recent photoemission experiment by Shimoyamada et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 96 026403 (2006)].Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Realistic modeling of strongly correlated electron systems: An introduction to the LDA+DMFT approach

The LDA+DMFT approach merges conventional band structure theory in the local density approximation (LDA) with a state-of-the-art many-body technique, the dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT). This new computational scheme has recently become a powerful tool for ab initio investigations of real materials with strong electronic correlations. In this paper an introduction to the basic ideas and the set-up of the LDA+DMFT approach is given. Results for the photoemission spectra of the transition metal oxide La_{1-x}Sr_xTiO_3, obtained by solving the DMFT-equations by quantum Monte-Carlo (QMC) simulations, are presented and are found to be in very good agreement with experiment. The numerically exact DMFT(QMC) solution is compared with results obtained by two approximative solutions, i.e., the iterative perturbation theory and the non-crossing approximation.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures, SCES-Y2K Conference Proceeding

Quantum Monte Carlo study for multiorbital systems with preserved spin and orbital rotational symmetries

We propose to combine the Trotter decomposition and a series expansion of the partition function for Hund's exchange coupling in a quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) algorithm for multiorbital systems that preserves spin and orbital rotational symmetries. This enables us to treat the Hund's (spin-flip and pair-hopping) terms, which is difficult in the conventional QMC method. To demonstrate this, we first apply the algorithm to study ferromagnetism in the two-orbital Hubbard model within the dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT). The result reveals that the preservation of the SU(2) symmetry in Hund's exchange is important, where the Curie temperature is grossly overestimated when the symmetry is degraded, as is often done, to Ising (Z$_2$). We then calculate the $t_{2g}$ spectral functions of Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ by a three-band DMFT calculation with tight-binding parameters taken from the local density approximation with proper rotational symmetry.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures. Typos corrected, some comments and references adde

The LDA+DMFT route to identify good thermoelectrics

For technical applications thermoelectric materials with a high figure of merit are desirable, and strongly correlated electron systems are very promising in this respect. Since effects of bandstructure_and_ electronic correlations play an important role for getting large figure of merits, the combination of local density approximation_and_ dynamical mean field theory is an ideal tool for the computational materials design of new thermoelectrics as well as to help us understand the mechanisms leading to large figures of merits in certain materials. This conference proceedings provides for a brief introduction to the method and reviews recent results for LiRh_2O_4.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures; to be published in 'Properties and Applications of Thermoelectric Materials', editors V. Zlatic and A. Hewso

Momentum-resolved spectral functions of SrVO3_3 calculated by LDA+DMFT

LDA+DMFT, the merger of density functional theory in the local density approximation and dynamical mean-field theory, has been mostly employed to calculate k-integrated spectra accessible by photoemission spectroscopy. In this paper, we calculate k-resolved spectral functions by LDA+DMFT. To this end, we employ the Nth order muffin-tin (NMTO) downfolding to set up an effective low-energy Hamiltonian with three t_2g orbitals. This downfolded Hamiltonian is solved by DMFT yielding k-dependent spectra. Our results show renormalized quasiparticle bands over a broad energy range from -0.7 eV to +0.9 eV with small ``kinks'', discernible in the dispersion below the Fermi energy.Comment: 21 pages, 8 figure

Orbital-selective Mott-Hubbard transition in the two-band Hubbard model

Recent advances in the field of quantum Monte Carlo simulations for impurity problems allow --within dynamical mean field theory-- for a more thorough investigation of the two-band Hubbard model with narrow/wide band and SU(2)-symmetric Hund's exchange. The nature of this transition has been controversial, and we establish that an orbital-selective Mott-Hubbard transition exists. Thereby, the wide band still shows metallic behavior after the narrow band became insulating -not a pseudogap as for an Ising Hund's exchange. The coexistence of two solutions with metallic wide band and insulating or metallic narrow band indicates, in general, first-order transitions.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; 2nd version as published in Phys. Rev. B (R); minor corrections, putting more emphasis on differences in spectra when comparing SU(2) and Ising Hund's exchang

Computation of correlation-induced atomic displacements and structural transformations in paramagnetic KCuF3 and LaMnO3

We present a computational scheme for ab initio total-energy calculations of materials with strongly interacting electrons using a plane-wave basis set. It combines ab initio band structure and dynamical mean-field theory and is implemented in terms of plane-wave pseudopotentials. The present approach allows us to investigate complex materials with strongly interacting electrons and is able to treat atomic displacements, and hence structural transformations, caused by electronic correlations. Here it is employed to investigate two prototypical Jahn-Teller materials, KCuF3 and LaMnO3, in their paramagnetic phases. The computed equilibrium Jahn-Teller distortion and antiferro-orbital order agree well with experiment, and the structural optimization performed for paramagnetic KCuF3 yields the correct lattice constant, equilibrium Jahn-Teller distortion and tetragonal compression of the unit cell. Most importantly, the present approach is able to determine correlation-induced structural transformations, equilibrium atomic positions and lattice structure in both strongly and weakly correlated solids in their paramagnetic phases as well as in phases with long-range magnetic order.Comment: 27 pages, 11 figure

The elusive old population of the dwarf spheroidal galaxy Leo I

We report the discovery of a significant old population in the dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy Leo I as a result of a wide-area search with the ESO New Technology Telescope. Studies of the stellar content of Local Group dwarf galaxies have shown the presence of an old stellar population in almost all of the dwarf spheroidals. The only exception was Leo I, which alone appeared to have delayed its initial star formation episode until just a few Gyr ago. The color-magnitude diagram of Leo I now reveals an extended horizontal branch, unambiguously indicating the presence of an old, metal-poor population in the outer regions of this galaxy. Yet we find little evidence for a stellar population gradient, at least outside R > 2' (0.16 kpc), since the old horizontal branch stars of Leo I are radially distributed as their more numerous intermediate-age helium-burning counterparts. The discovery of a definitely old population in the predominantly young dwarf spheroidal galaxy Leo I points to a sharply defined first epoch of star formation common to all of the Local Group dSph's as well as to the halo of the Milky Way.Comment: 4 pages, 3 postscript figures, uses apjfonts.sty, emulateapj.sty. Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Reply to a Comment on ``Projective Quantum Monte Carlo Method for the Anderson Impurity Model and its Application to Dynamical Mean Field Theory''

In our reply, we show that the objections put forward in cond-mat/0508763 concerning our paper, Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 136405 (2004), are not valid: (i) There is no orthogonality catastrophe (OC) for our calculations, and it is also generally not ``unpractical'' to avoid it. (ii) The OC does not affect our results.Comment: 1 page, 1 figure, Phys. Rev. Lett. in print; also note cond-mat/050944