Exchange-correlation entropy from the generalized thermal adiabatic connection

Abstract

Warm dense matter is a highly energetic phase characterized by strong correlations, thermal effects, and quantum mechanical electrons. Thermal density functional theory is commonly used in simulations of this challenging phase, driving the development of temperature-dependent approximations to the exchange-correlation free energy. Approaches using the adiabatic connection formula are well known at zero temperature and have been recently leveraged at non-zero temperatures as well. In this work, a generalized thermal adiabatic connection (GTAC) formula is proposed, introducing a fictitious temperature parameter. This allows extraction of the exchange-correlation entropy $S_{xc}$ using simulated interaction strength scaling. This procedure, in turn, provides an avenue for approximating the exchange-correlation entropy in a way that preserves consistency with a chosen ground-state approximation. In addition, analysis of $S_{xc}$ as a function of interaction strength suggests new forms for approximations and GTAC itself offers a new framework for exploring both the exact and approximate interplay of temperature, density, and interaction strength across a wide range of conditions.