Ensemble density functional theory of the fractional quantum Hall effect

TL;DR

This paper introduces an ensemble density functional theory approach for the fractional quantum Hall effect, enabling the study of large, inhomogeneous systems with improved accuracy and computational efficiency.

Contribution

It develops a local density approximation-based ensemble DFT method specifically for the fractional quantum Hall effect, demonstrating its effectiveness through model calculations.

Findings

Results agree with semiclassical and Hartree-Fock calculations

Enables study of larger inhomogeneous systems

Shows density functional theory is useful for fractional quantum Hall studies

Abstract

We develop an ensemble density functional theory for the fractional quantum Hall effect using a local density approximation. Model calculations for edge reconstructions of a spin-polarized quantum dot give results in good agreement with semiclassical and Hartree-Fock calculations, and with small system numerical diagonalizations. This establishes the usefulness of density functional theory to study the fractional quantum Hall effect, which opens up the possibility of studying inhomegeneous systems with many more electrons than has heretofore been possible.