Real-space pseudopotential calculations for graphene dots embedded in hexagonal boron nitride

A major challenge for graphene-based applications is the creation of a tunable electronic band gap as would be present for traditional semiconductor alloys. Since hexagonal boron nitride has a very similar lattice structure to graphene, it is a natural candidate for modifying the electronic structure of graphene by forming a hybrid phase sheet containing domains of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride, as has been done experimentally. Here we investigate the properties of such hybrid sheets using pseudopotential-density functional theory implemented in real space. We find for a graphene dot comparable in size to those observed in experiment, the band gap of the sheet is not significantly modified.     

Augmented Lagrangian method for constrained nuclear density functional theory

The augmented Lagrangiam method (ALM), widely used in quantum chemistry constrained optimization problems, is applied in the context of the nuclear Density Functional Theory (DFT) in the self-consistent constrained Skyrme Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (CHFB) variant. The ALM allows precise calculations of multi-dimensional energy surfaces in the space of collective coordinates that are needed to, e.g., determine fission pathways and saddle points; it improves the accuracy of computed derivatives with respect to collective variables that are used to determine collective inertia; and is well adapted to supercomputer applications.     

Effects of the substrate on graphone magnetism: A density functional theory study

The magnetism of graphone, a single-side-hydrogenated graphene derivative, has been related to the localized and unpaired p-electrons associated with the unhydrogenated carbon atoms. In the present density functional theory study, the effects the adhesion to either Cu(111) or α-quartz (0001) surface on the magnetic properties of graphone have been investigated. The total magnetization of the graphone adsorbed to copper and quartz surface is reduced by four and two times, respectively, with respect to the isolated graphone. We have shown there is electronic charge transfer from surface towards three-fold coordinated C atoms of graphone, but the main role in the partial magnetism quenching is played by bond formation and the consequent electron pairing of p-electrons. The critical temperature has been investigated on the basis of the mean field theory to evaluate the stability of the magnetism at ordinary temperature.     

A spin-polarized scheme for obtaining quasi-particle energies within the density functional theory

We discuss an efficient scheme for obtaining spin-polarized quasi-particle excitation energies within the general framework of the density functional theory (DFT). Our approach is to correct the DFT eigenvalues via the electrostatic energy of a majority or minority spin electron resulting from its interaction with the associated exchange and correlation holes by using appropriate spin-resolved pair correlation functions. A version of the method for treating systems with localized orbitals, including the case of partially filled metallic bands, is considered. Illustrative results on Cu are presented.     

Global minimum determination of the Born-Oppenheimer surface within density functional theory

We present a novel method, which we refer to as the dual minima hopping method, that allows us to find the global minimum of the potential energy surface (PES) within density functional theory for systems where a fast but less accurate calculation of the PES is possible. This method can rapidly find the ground state configuration of clusters and other complex systems with present day computer power by performing a systematic search. We apply the new method to silicon clusters. Even though these systems have already been extensively studied by other methods, we find new global minimum candidates for Si16 and Si19, as well as new low-lying isomers for Si16, Si17, and Si18.     

Structure, magnetism, and adhesion at Cr/Fe interfaces from density functional theory

Properties of the Cr(1 0 0)/Fe(1 0 0) and Cr(1 1 0)/Fe(1 1 0) interfaces are investigated with spin-polarized density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation (DFT-GGA) for electron exchange and correlation. Contrary to earlier predictions for a monolayer of Cr on bulk Fe, we find intermixing of Cr and Fe at the interface of thick films to be endothermic; hence here we focus on characterizing abrupt, unalloyed interfaces. The ideal work of adhesion for both the (1 0 0) and (1 1 0) abrupt interfaces is predicted to be ∼5.4 J/m². We propose that this anomalously strong adhesion between heterogeneous interfaces is derived from significant spin correlations and d-d bonding at the interface.     

Experimental evidence for intra-atomic noncollinear magnetism at thin film probe tips

The energy-dependent spin-density orientation (SDO) at the apex of thin magnetic film tips is studied by spin-polarized scanning tunneling spectroscopy (SP-STS) at different bias voltages. At most energies the SDO is collinear with the tip magnetization resulting in a domain or domain-wall contrast in SP-STS images of out-of-plane magnetized samples measured with Gd or Fe coated tips, respectively. For some bias voltages, however, the SDO of the tip is found to be almost perpendicular to its magnetization. This result is explained in terms of intra-atomic noncollinear magnetism.     

Nuclear density functional theory

An understanding of atomic nuclei is crucial for a complete nuclear theory, for the nuclear astrophysics, for performing new experimental tasks, and for various other applications. Within a density functional theory, the total binding energy of the nucleus is given by a functional of the nuclear density matrices and their derivatives. The variation of the energy density functional with respect to particle and pairing densities leads to the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov equations. The “Universal Nuclear Energy Density Functional” (UNEDF) SciDAC project to develop and optimize the energy density functional for atomic nuclei using state-of-the-art computational infrastructure, is briefly described. The ultimate goal is to replace current phenomenological models of the nucleus with a well-founded microscopic theory with minimal uncertainties, capable of describing nuclear data and extrapolating to unknown regions.     

Irradiation-induced magnetism in graphite: a density functional study

Recent experiments indicate that proton irradiation triggers ferromagnetism in originally nonmagnetic graphite samples while He ion bombardment has a much smaller effect. To understand the origin of irradiation-induced magnetism, we have performed spin-polarized density functional theory calculations of the magnetic properties of the defects which are most likely to appear under irradiation vacancies and vacancy-hydrogen complexes. Both defects are magnetic, but as for the latter we find that H adsorption on one of the vacancy dangling bonds gives rise to a magnetic moment double that of the naked vacancy. We show that for small irradiation doses vacancy-hydrogen complexes result in a macroscopic magnetic signal which agrees well with the experimental values.     

Time-dependent density functional theory for quantum transport

The rapid miniaturization of electronic devices motivates research interests in quantum transport. Recently time-dependent quantum transport has become an important research topic. Here we review recent progresses in the development of time-dependent density-functional theory for quantum transport including the theoretical foundation and numerical algorithms. In particular, the reducedsingle electron density matrix based hierarchical equation of motion, which can be derived from Liouville–von Neumann equation, is reviewed in details. The numerical implementation is discussed and simulation results of realistic devices will be given.     

Development of electron-proton density functionals for multicomponent density functional theory

We present a strategy for the development of electron-proton density functionals in multicomponent density functional theory, treating electrons and selected nuclei quantum mechanically without the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. An electron-proton functional is derived using an explicitly correlated electron-proton pair density. This functional provides accurate hydrogen nuclear densities, thereby enabling reliable calculations of molecular properties. This approach is potentially applicable to relatively large molecular systems with key hydrogen nuclei treated quantum mechanically.     

Theoretical investigation of electronic and optical properties of andalusite within density functional theory

The electronic and optical properties of andalusite were studied by using quantum-mechanical calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT). The electronic structure shows that andalusite has a direct band gap of 5.01 eV. The complex dielectric function and optical constants, such as extinction coefficient, refractive index, reflectivity and energy-loss spectrum, are calculated. The optical properties of andalusite are discussed based on the band structure calculations. It is shown that the O-2p states and Al-3s states play a major role in optical transitions as initial and final states, respectively.     

Spin-potential functional formalism for current-carrying noncollinear magnetic systems

We develop a formalism dual to spin-current-density functional theory (CDFT) where minimization with respect to the scalar and vector spin potentials is used. In this way we circumvent the issues surrounding the nonuniqueness of the mapping between spin potentials and ground-state wave functions, and the v representability issue of current-density functionals. The approach applied within the Kohn-Sham formalism provides the foundations for the optimized effective potential method for CDFT.     

On the density functional theory

Based on the theoretical analysis of the Kohn Nobel lecture, three important analytical observations regarding the fundamental statements of the density functional theory are presented. It is also noted that the Kohn-Sham equation formally coincides with the Hartree-Fock-Slater equation: both equations have a single-particle character and differ from each other only by additions to the Hartree potential.     

Hybridized kinetic energy functional for orbital-free density functional method

We propose a hybridized kinetic energy functional, aTTF+bTvW, where TTF is the Thomas-Fermi functional and TvW the von Weizsäcker functional while a and b are adjustable parameters. The new functional is implemented in orbital-free plane-wave density functional method, in which a conjugate-gradient line-search scheme of electronic minimization is incorporated. Calculations with the fitted a and b show that this kinetic energy functional can describe the structures of small Si, Al and Si-Al alloy clusters with reasonable accuracy.     

Assignment of terahertz vibrational modes of L-glutamine using density functional theory within generalized-gradient approximation

The crystal structure of L-glutamine is stabilized by a three-dimensional network of intermolecular hydrogen bonds.We utilize plane-wave density functional theory lattice-dynamics calculations within the generalized-gradient approximation(GGA), Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof(PBE), PBE for solids(PBEsol), PBE with Wu–Cohen exchange(WC), and dispersion-corrected PBE, to investigate the effect of these intermolecular contacts on the absorption spectra of glutamine in the terahertz frequency range. Among these calculations, the solid-state simulated results obtained using the WC method exhibit a good agreement with the measured absorption spectra, and the absorption features are assigned with the help of WC. This indicates that the vibrational modes of glutamine were related to the combination of intramolecular and intermolecular motions, the intramolecular modes were dominated by rocking or torsion involving functional groups; the intermolecular modes mainly result from the translational motions of individual molecules, and the rocking of the hydrogenbonded functional groups.     

Three-dimensional potential energy surface for fission of 236U within covariant density functional theory

We calculate the three-dimensional potential energy surface(PES) for the fission of the compound nucleus ²³⁶U using covariant density functional theory with constraints on the axial quadrupole and octupole deformations(β₂, β₃)coexistence of the elongated and compact fission modes is predicted for comes shallow across a large range of quadrupole and octupole deformations for small scission line in the(β₂, β₃)plane extends to a shallow band, l...     

Developments in excited-state density functional theory

This article discusses the reasons behind the apparent lack of success of density functional theory (DFT), during the past three decades, with excited states of many-electron systems. It describes various variational and non-variational approaches developed so far for dealing with this problem. Those include Theophilou’s equiensemble approach, extended to unequally weighted ensembles by Gross et al., Fritsche’s wavefunction partitioning approach, local scaling transformation theory by Kryachko et al., the work-function formalism developed by Harbola and Sahni, etc. Through intimate connections between time-dependence and excited states, under a perturbation, various time-dependent (TD) DFT approaches to excited states, e.g., a quantum fluid dynamical approach, a TD density-functional response theory and a TD optimized effective potential approach, are also reviewed.