Analytic continuation by averaging Pad\'e approximants

The ill-posed analytic continuation problem for Green's functions and self-energies is investigated by revisiting the Pad\'{e} approximants technique. We propose to remedy the well-known problems of the Pad\'{e} approximants by performing an average of several continuations, obtained by varying the number of fitted input points and Pad\'{e} coefficients independently. The suggested approach is then applied to several test cases, including Sm and Pr atomic self-energies, the Green's functions of the Hubbard model for a Bethe lattice and of the Haldane model for a nano-ribbon, as well as two special test functions. The sensitivity to numerical noise and the dependence on the precision of the numerical libraries are analysed in detail. The present approach is compared to a number of other techniques, i.e. the non-negative least-square method, the non-negative Tikhonov method and the maximum entropy method, and is shown to perform well for the chosen test cases. This conclusion holds even when the noise on the input data is increased to reach values typical for quantum Monte Carlo simulations. The ability of the algorithm to resolve fine structures is finally illustrated for two relevant test functions.Comment: 10 figure

Charge self-consistent dynamical mean-field theory based on the full-potential linear muffin-tin orbital method: methodology and applications

Full charge self-consistence (CSC) over the electron density has been implemented into the local density approximation plus dynamical mean-field theory (LDA+DMFT) scheme based on a full-potential linear muffin-tin orbital method (FP-LMTO). Computational details on the construction of the electron density from the density matrix are provided. The method is tested on the prototypical charge-transfer insulator NiO using a simple static Hartree-Fock approximation as impurity solver. The spectral and ground state properties of bcc Fe are then addressed, by means of the spin-polarized T-matrix fluctuation exchange solver (SPTF). Finally the permanent magnet SmCo$_5$ is studied using multiple impurity solvers, SPTF and Hubbard I, as the strength of the local Coulomb interaction on the Sm and Co sites are drastically different. The developed CSC-DMFT method is shown to in general improve on materials properties like magnetic moments, electronic structure and the materials density.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

The interplay of local electron correlations and ultrafast spin dynamics in fcc Ni

The complex electronic structure of metallic ferromagnets is determined by a balance between exchange interaction, electron hopping leading to band formation, and local Coulomb repulsion. The interplay between the respective terms of the Hamiltonian is of fundamental interest, since it produces most, if not all, of the exotic phenomena observed in the solid state. By combining high energy and temporal resolution in femtosecond time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy with ab initio time-dependent density functional theory we analyze the electronic structure in fcc Ni on the time scale of these interactions in a pump-probe experiment. We distinguish transient broadening and energy shifts in the absorption spectra, which we demonstrate to be caused by electron repopulation and correlation-induced modifications of the electronic structure, respectively. Importantly, the theoretical description of this experimental result hence requires to take the local Coulomb interaction into account, revealing a temporal interplay between band formation, exchange interaction, and Coulomb repulsion

Polarization of an open shell in the presence of spin-orbit coupling

There exist many f transition metal-based materials, with large orbital degeneracy and relatively strong spin-orbit coupling, that exhibits some multipolar order. We perform first-principles calculations on these systems within DFT method plus on-site Coulomb correction and we discuss the results in terms of polarization of the density occupation matrix. The fact that higher multipole polarizations play a larger role than the spin polarization indicates a breakdown of Hund's rules and we suggest a new complementary set of rules —Katt's rules, valid in case of large spin-orbit coupling interaction

Femtosecond fragmentation of CS2_2 after sulfur 1s ionization: interplay between Auger cascade decay, charge delocalization, and nuclear motion

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of the fragmentation of molecular CS2 after sulfur 1s Auger cascade decay, consisting of electron–multi-ion coincidence spectra of charged fragments and theoretical simulations combining density functional theory and molecular dynamics. On the experimental side, a procedure for a complete determination of all sets of ions formed is described. For many of the fragmentation channels, we observed a higher charge in one of the sulfur atoms than the other atoms. Based on these observations and the theoretical simulations where the time scale of the nuclear motion and decay is taken into account, we propose that KLL Auger decay after the 1s core hole creation, via 2p double hole states, results in highly charged and strongly repulsive states with one localized core hole. These localized core holes are sufficiently long-lived that some will decay after fragmentation of the molecular ion, thereby efficiently impeding charge exchange between the fragments