Jellium surface energy beyond the local-density approximation: Self-consistent-field calculations

Abstract

We report extensive self-consistent calculations of jellium surface energies, by going beyond the local-density approximation. The density-response function of a bounded free-electron gas is evaluated within the random-phase approximation, with use of self-consistent electron density profiles. The exchange-correlation energy is then obtained from an exact adiabatic fluctuation-dissipation formula. We also investigate quantum-size effects and the extrapolation of finite-slab calculations to the infinite-width limit.