Diffusion quantum Monte Carlo study of three-dimensional Wigner crystals

N. D. Drummond, Z. Radnai, J. R. Trail, M. D. Towler, and R. J. Needs
Phys. Rev. B 69, 085116 – Published 27 February 2004
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Abstract

We report diffusion quantum Monte Carlo calculations of three-dimensional Wigner crystals in the density range rs=100150. We have tested different types of orbital for use in the approximate wave functions but none improve upon the simple Gaussian form. The Gaussian exponents are optimized by directly minimizing the diffusion quantum Monte Carlo energy. We have carefully investigated and sought to minimize the potential biases in our Monte Carlo results. We conclude that the uniform electron gas undergoes a transition from a ferromagnetic fluid to a body-centered-cubic Wigner crystal at rs=106±1. The diffusion quantum Monte Carlo results are compared with those from Hartree-Fock and Hartree theory in order to understand the role played by exchange and correlation in Wigner crystals. We also study “floating” Wigner crystals and give results for their pair-correlation functions.

  • Received 10 July 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.69.085116

©2004 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

N. D. Drummond, Z. Radnai, J. R. Trail, M. D. Towler, and R. J. Needs

  • TCM Group, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom

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Vol. 69, Iss. 8 — 15 February 2004

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