Abstract. The dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT) is a widely applicable approximation scheme for the investigation of correlated quantum many-particle systems on a lattice, e.g., electrons in solids and cold atoms in optical lattices. In particular, the combination of the DMFT with conventional methods for the calculation of electronic band structures has led to a powerful numerical approach which allows one to explore the properties of correlated materials. In this introductory article we discuss the foundations of the DMFT, derive the underlying self-consistency equations, and present several applications which have provided important insights into the properties of correlated matter.
Motivation
Electronic CorrelationsAlready in 1937, at the outset of modern solid state physics, de Boer and Verwey [1] drew attention to the surprising properties of materials with incompletely filled 3d-bands. This observation prompted Mott and Peierls [2] to discuss the interaction between the electrons. Ever since transition metal oxides (TMOs) were investigated intensively [3]. It is now well-known that in many materials with partially filled electron shells, such as the 3d transition metals V and Ni and their oxides, or 4f rare-earth metals such as Ce, electrons occupy narrow orbitals. The spatial confinement enhances the effect of the Coulomb interaction between the electrons, making them "strongly correlated". Correlation effects can lead to profound quantitative and qualitative changes of the physical properties of electronic systems as compared to non-interacting particles. In particular, they often respond very strongly to changes in external parameters. This is expressed by large renormalizations of the response functions of the system, e.g., of the spin susceptibility and the charge compressibility. In particular, the interplay between the spin, charge and orbital degrees of freedom of the correlated d and f electrons and with the lattice degrees of freedom leads to an amazing multitude of ordering phenomena and other fascinating properties, including high temperature superconductivity, colossal magnetoresistance and Mott metal-insulator transitions [3].arXiv:1109.4833v1 [cond-mat.str-el]