# Diverging exchange force and form of the exact density matrix functional

## TL;DR

This paper reveals how the exact density matrix functional in lattice models depends on the geometry of the representability polytope, introduces the concept of an 'exchange force' from divergence of the gradient, and derives the functional for the Hubbard square.

## Contribution

It uncovers the geometric structure of the exact functional in RDMFT and introduces the concept of an exchange force related to the boundary of the representability polytope.

## Key findings

- Functional depends only on natural occupation numbers within symmetry sectors.
- The polytope of representable matrices is described by linear constraints.
- Gradient of the functional diverges at the boundary, indicating an 'exchange force'.

## Abstract

For translationally invariant one-band lattice models, we exploit the ab initio knowledge of the natural orbitals to simplify reduced density matrix functional theory (RDMFT). Striking underlying features are discovered: First, within each symmetry sector, the interaction functional $\mathcal{F}$ depends only on the natural occupation numbers $\bf{n}$. The respective sets $\mathcal{P}^1_N$ and $\mathcal{E}^1_N$ of pure and ensemble $N$-representable one-matrices coincide. Second, and most importantly, the exact functional is strongly shaped by the geometry of the polytope $\mathcal{E}^1_N \equiv \mathcal{P}^1_N $, described by linear constraints $D^{(j)}(\bf{n})\geq 0$. For smaller systems, it follows as $\mathcal{F}[\bf{n}]=\sum_{i,i'} \overline{V}_{i,i'} \sqrt{D^{(i)}(\bf{n})D^{(i')}(\bf{n})}$. This generalizes to systems of arbitrary size by replacing each $D^{(i)}$ by a linear combination of $\{D^{(j)}(\bf{n})\}$ and adding a non-analytical term involving the interaction $\hat{V}$. Third, the gradient $\mathrm{d}\mathcal{F}/\mathrm{d}\bf{n}$ is shown to diverge on the boundary $\partial\mathcal{E}^1_N$, suggesting that the fermionic exchange symmetry manifests itself within RDMFT in the form of an "exchange force". All findings hold for systems with non-fixed particle number as well and $\hat{V}$ can be any $p$-particle interaction. As an illustration, we derive the exact functional for the Hubbard square.