Spin Polarization of the Low Density 3D Electron Gas

TL;DR

This paper investigates the spin polarization transition in a low-density 3D electron gas at zero temperature using advanced quantum Monte Carlo simulations, identifying a second order phase transition at a specific density parameter.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed quantum Monte Carlo calculation of the energy versus spin polarization in the low-density regime, revealing a second order phase transition.

Findings

Transition to partially polarized phase at r_s = 50 ± 2

Second order phase transition identified

Estimated magnetic transition temperature using Stoner model

Abstract

To determine the state of spin polarization of the 3D electron gas at very low densities and zero temperature, we calculate the energy versus spin polarization using Diffusion Quantum Monte Carlo methods with backflow wavefunctions and twist averaged boundary conditions. We find a second order phase transition to a partially polarized phase at r_s = 50 \pm 2. The magnetic transition temperature is estimated using an effective mean field method, the Stoner model.