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The linear-response Sham-Schlüter equation can be used to calculate an exchange-correlation potential starting from a given approximation for the self-energy. The asymptotic behavior of these potentials is, however, much debated, a recent work suggesting that they could blow up in finite systems. Here we investigate the asymptotic behavior of the linear-response Sham-Schlüter potentials in the GW and second-order approximations for the self-energy. We show that these potentials do not diverge, and that the correlation potential itself has a -α/(2r[SUP4]) tail (under appropriate conditions), where a depends on the self-energy. We also provide further justification for the quasiparticle approximation to the linear-response Sham-Schlüter equation, that is much simpler to solve while likely being of comparable accuracy. Calculations for real molecules or solids using this approximation should be within the reach of present computers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The renormalization of the band structure at zero temperature due to electron-phonon coupling is explored in diamond, BN, LiF, and MgO crystals. We implement a dynamical scheme to compute the frequency-dependent self-energy and the resulting quasiparticle electronic structure. Our calculations reveal the presence of a satellite band below the Fermi level of LiF and MgO. We show that the renormalization factor (Z), which is neglected in the adiabatic approximation, can reduce the zero-point renormalization (ZPR) by as much as 40%. Anharmonic effects in the renormalized eigenvalues at finite atomic displacements are explored with the frozen-phonon method. We use a nonperturbative expression for the ZPR, going beyond the Allen-Heine-Cardona theory. Our results indicate that high-order electron-phonon coupling terms contribute significantly to the zero-point renormalization for certain materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compute the zero-point renormalization (ZPR) of the optical band gap of diamond from many-body perturbation theory using the perturbative G0W0 approximation as well as quasiparticle self-consistent GW. The electron-phonon coupling energies are found to be more than 40% higher than standard density functional theory when many-body effects are included with the frozen-phonon calculations. A similar increase is observed for the zero-point renormalization in GaAs when G0W0 corrections are applied. We show that these many-body corrections are necessary to accurately predict the temperature dependence of the band gap. The frozen-phonon method also allows us to validate the rigid-ion approximation which is always present in density functional perturbation theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ba3Si6O12N2:Eu2+ and Ba3Si6O9N4:Eu2+ have strikingly similar atomistic structures, but the former is an efficient green phosphor at working temperature while the latter is a bluish-green phosphor whose luminescence decreases quite fast with temperature. Aiming at the understanding of such different behavior, we compute the quasiparticle electronic band structure of the two hosts, Ba3Si6O12N2 and Ba3Si6O9N4, thanks to many-body perturbation theory in the G0W0 approximation. The gap differs by about 0.43 eV. We analyze the eigenfunctions at the top of the valence band, at the bottom of the conduction band, and also the chemical shifts for the Ba site in the two hosts. The valence bands, directly impacted by the different stoichiometric ratio, are not thought to play a large role in the luminescence. Deceivingly, the dispersive bottom of the conduction band, directly related to luminescent properties, is similar in both compounds. The spatial topology of the probability density of the bottom of the conduction bands differs, as well as the location of the 5d peak, with a much higher energy than the bottom of the conduction band in Ba3Si6O12N2 than in Ba3Si6O9N4. Electromagnetic absorption spectra are also computed for both compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining the local spin density approximation (LSDA)+U and an analysis of superexchange interactions beyond density functional theory, we describe the magnetic ground state of Cr-doped TiO2, an intensively studied and debated dilute magnetic oxide. In parallel, we correct our LSDA+U (+ superexchange) ground state through GW corrections (GW@LSDA+U) that reproduce the position of the impurity states and the band gaps in satisfying agreement with experiments. Because of the different topological coordinations of Cr-Cr bonds in the ground states of rutile and anatase, superexchange interactions induce either ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic couplings of Cr ions. In Cr-doped anatase, this interaction leads to a new mechanism which stabilizes a (nonrobust) ferromagnetic ground state, in keeping with experimental evidence, without the need to invoke F-center exchange. The interplay between structural defects and vacancies in contributing to the superexchange is also unveiled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from fully converged density-functional theory calculations, the quasiparticle corrections are calculated for different sized Si and Ge nanowires using the GW approximation. The effectiveness of recently developed techniques in speeding up the convergence of the quasiparticle calculations is demonstrated. The complete quasiparticle band structures are also obtained using an interpolation technique based on maximallylocalized Wannier functions. From the quasiparticle results, we assess the correctness of the commonly applied scissor-shift correction. Dispersion changes are observed, which are also reflected in changes in the effective band masses calculated taking into account quasiparticle corrections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]