<p> In this thesis, we investigate the possibility that a purely electronic mechanism is the cause of superconductivity in C60 materials. Several computational methods are adopted to calculate the pair-binding energy. They are perturbation theory, exact diagonalization, Gutzwiller projection, and auxiliary field Monte Carlo. Results from these different methods are compared with each other both in a C60 molecule and in other smaller molecules in order to test conclusions about whether or not a purely electronic mechanism can lead to an attractive interactions between electrons in C60 molecules.</p> <p> Besides this test of the superconductivity mechanism, we also explain in detail how to apply these different computational methods to C60 for the specific geometry of C60. Clearly illustrating these computational methods is the second goal of this thesis.</p> <p> Our final conclusion is that for both small and large Hubbard interaction U, there is pair binding in a single C60 molecule. For intermediate Hubbard interaction strength, there is no clear evidence for pair binding for the range of temperatures we explored. We suggest that the truncation of the Coulomb interaction, which is implicit in the Hubbard Hamiltonian, may suppress pair-binding of electrons in C60 and that it may be necessary to consider a model that includes the long range character of Coulomb interaction. This is a subject for further study.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

In the 4d transition metal oxides, the extension of the 4d orbitals leads to comparable and thus competitive kinetic and coulomb energies. As a result, small perturbations can induce significant changes in their physical properties, giving rise to a class of exotic phenomena that are rarely found in other materials. The ruthenates materials with readily tunable parameters open an avenue to study the strong electronic correlation in the rarely explored territory: the 4d transition metal oxides. The bilayered system, Ca3Ru2O7, belongs to the Ruddlesden-Popper series in which the physical properties are intimately linked to the lattice degrees of freedom. Ca3Ru2O7, with its quasi-2D and severe structure distortion, is believed to be placed in a unique position at which the role of orbital degrees of freedom is highlighted. The system displays strikingly different behaviors when the field is applied along different crystalline axes. A ferromagnetic (FM) state with full spin polarization is achieved for B||a-axis, but colossal magnetoresistance is realized only for B||b-axis by avoiding the ferromagnetic state. In addition, for B rotating within the ac-plane, slow and strong SdH oscillations periodic in 1/B are observed for T.1.5 K in the presence of metamagnetism. For B|| [110], oscillations are also observed but periodic in B (rather than 1/B) and persist up to 15 K. These properties together with highly unusual spin-charge-lattice coupling near the Mott transition (48 K) are driven by the orbital degrees of freedom. Complex thermodynamic properties are also observed in the other ruthenates system such as Sr4Ru3O10 and Pr3RuO7. The Sr4Ru3O10 is a triple-layered system that shows a dedicate balance between fluctuations and order. Besides the anomaly at TC=102K, anomalous behavior at low temperatures are also observed in the thermal study, indicative of an unusual magnetic order in this material. The Pr3RuO7 shows one-dimensional structure with zig-zag chain of corner sharing RuO6 octahedra running in parallel with the rows of edge-shared PrO8 pseudo-cubes. Magnetic and thermal properties studies on its single crystals indicate that the exchange interaction is strongly anisotropic. A Schottky-type anomaly at low temperature suggests that the gorderedh chain Pr ions are still sensitive to a crystal field.

De nos jours, l'incomplétude du modèle standard des particules est largement reconnue. L'une de ses failles les plus évidentes est le manque d'explication de l'énorme excédent de matière par rapport à l'antimatière dans l'univers, que l'on appelle l'asymétrie baryonique de l'univers. De nouvelles violations de CP (conjugaison de charge et parité spatiale) absentes dans le modèle standard sont supposées être responsables de cette asymétrie. Une telle violation pourrait être observée dans la matière ordinaire à travers un ensemble d'interactions violant les symétries de parité et de renversement du temps (impaires pour P,T) dont les prépondérantes sont les interactions du moment dipolaire électrique de l'électron (eEDM), électron-nucléon scalaire-pseudoscalaire (enSPS) et du moment quadripolaire magnétique nucléaire (nMQM). Ainsi, une preuve expérimentale d'une constante d'interaction impaire pour P,T serait une preuve de cette nouvelle physique au-delà du modèle standard. Le calcul des paramètres moléculaires correspondants est réalisé en utilisant une approche d'interaction de configurations relativiste à quatre composantes dans des molécules diatomiques polaires contenant un actinide, qui sont des systèmes particulièrement appropriés pour les expèriences eEDM, tels que ThO qui a permis d'assigner à l'eEDM la borne supérieure la plus contraignante et ThF+ qui sera utilisé dans une expérience à venir. Ces résultats sont d'une importance cruciale dans l'interprétation des mesures puisque les constantes fondamentales ne peuvent être évaluées que si l'on associe les mesures de décalages énergétiques et les paramètres moléculaires théoriques. / Nowadays, the incompleteness of the Standard Model of particles is largely acknowledged. One of its most obvious shortcomings is the lack of explanation for the huge surplus of matter over antimatter in the universe, the so-called Baryon Asymmetry of the Universe. New CP (Charge conjugation and spatial Parity) violations absent in the SM are assumed to be responsible for this asymmetry. Such a violation could be observed in ordinary matter through a set of interactions violating both parity and time-reversal symmetries (P,T-odd), among which the preponderant ones are the electron Electric Dipole Moment (eEDM), the electron-nucleon scalar-pseudoscalar (enSPS) and the nuclear magnetic quadrupole moment (nMQM) interactions. Hence, an experimental evidence of a non-zero P,T-odd interaction constant would be a probe of this New Physics beyond the Standard Model. The calculation of the corresponding molecular parameters is performed by making use of an elaborate four-component relativistic configuration interaction approach in polar diatomic molecules containing an actinide, that are particularly adequate systems for eEDM experiments, such as ThO that allowed for assigning the most constraining upper bound on the eEDM and ThF+ that will be used in a forthcoming experiment. Those results will be of crucial importance in the interpretation of the measurements since the fundamental constants can only be evaluated if one combines both experimental energy shift measurements and theoretical molecular parameters.

Submitted by Cláudia Bueno (claudiamoura18@gmail.com) on 2016-01-13T15:36:07Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Emanuel Melo Isaac Moreira - 2015.pdf: 656931 bytes, checksum: 8e949a592f6171db8c2e771edb7895e2 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-01-14T11:04:15Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Emanuel Melo Isaac Moreira - 2015.pdf: 656931 bytes, checksum: 8e949a592f6171db8c2e771edb7895e2 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-14T11:04:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Emanuel Melo Isaac Moreira - 2015.pdf: 656931 bytes, checksum: 8e949a592f6171db8c2e771edb7895e2 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-04-08 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / In this work we used a combination of density functional theory and quantum Monte Carlo methods to study the effect of electron correlation on stability and aromaticity of anionic Boron clusters (B− 3 and B− 4 ). We found that, in general, the cyclic isomer is energetically more stable than its open linear counterpart. Based on principles of minimum energy and electrophilicity, and maximum hardness, diffusion Monte Carlo indicates that B− 3 cluster is aromatic, however, the results are not conclusive with respect to the B− 4 cluster. Calculations were also performed within the Hartree–Fock approximation. From the obtained results, we analysed the impact of the electron correlation effects in these clusters and found that the correlation of the electrons contributes significantly to the ionization potential and electron affinities varying between 31% and 66% of their total values. / Neste trabalho combinamos a teoria do funcional da densidade com o método de Monte Carlo quântico para estudar o efeito da correlação eletrônica na estabilidade e na aromaticidade de clusters de boro aniônicos (B− 3 e B− 4 ). Verificamos que, em geral, o isômero cíclico é energeticamente mais estável que sua respectiva estrutura linear. Com base no princípio da mínima energia e eletrofilicidade, e máxima dureza, o método Monte Carlo por difusão indicou que o cluster B− 3 é aromático, porém, os resultados para o cluster B− 4 ainda não são conclusivos. Realizamos também cálculos com a aproximação de Hartree-Fock. Dos resultados obtidos, analisamos o impacto do efeito da correlação nesses clusters e verificamos que a correlação dos elétrons contribuem significativamente para o potencial

Les travaux présentés dans ce manuscrit de thèse peuvent être divisés en deux parties. Dans une première partie, nous nous sommes intéressé à une extension multiconfigurationnelle de la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité (DFT) par l'intermédiaire d'une séparation de portée permettant un traitement hybride entre DFT et fonction d'onde multiconfigurationnelle « state-averaged ». Ainsi, nous récupérons en même temps la corrélation dynamique et la corrélation statique. De plus, cette étude est réalisée en considérant la DFT pour les ensembles afin de considérer une alternative à la méthode usuelle utilisée (DFT dépendante du temps) pour la détermination des états excités d'une molécule, évitant ainsi certains problèmes théoriques rencontrés avec cette approche. En particulier, les intersections coniques entre états excités nous intéressent particulièrement car il s'agit de cas pour lesquels une approche multiconfigurationnelle est primordiale. Dans une seconde partie, le développement de nouvelles fonctionnelles est réalisé sur le dimère de Hubbard asymétrique afin de tester de nouvelles approximations et d'étudier plus en détail les processus auto-cohérents. De plus, des couplages non-adiabatiques sont calculés en utilisant des énergies déterminées dans le cadre de la DFT pour les ensembles ayant la particularité de ne pas être dépendant du temps. / This thesis manuscript can be divided in two parts. In the first one, we are interested in a multiconfigurational extension for the density functional theory (DFT) including a range separation to deal with a hybrid theory between DFT and state-averaged wave function theory. In this case, we recover, at the same time, the dynamical correlation and the static correlation. Moreover, this study is performed considering the ensemble DFT to use an alternative to the usual method (time-dependent DFT) to describe the excited states of a molecule, avoiding some theoretical problems known with this approach. Particularly, conical intersections between excited states are interesting because a multiconfigurational approach is necessary. In the second part, new functionals development are performed and applied on the non-symmetric Hubbard dimer in order to test new approximations and to study more in detail self-consistency processes. In addition, non-adiabatic couplings are calculated using energies from ensemble DFT framework without time-dependence.

La présente thèse traite de la description de systèmes complexes, notamment des polymères et des cuprates, par la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité. En premier lieu, la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité ainsi que différentes fonctionnelles utilisées pour simuler les matériaux à l’étude sont présentées. Plus spécifiquement, les fonctionnelles LDA et GGA sont décrites et leurs limites sont exposées. De plus, le modèle de Hubbard ainsi que la fonctionnelle LDA+U qui en découle sont abordés dans ce chapitre afin de permettre la simulation des propriétés de matériaux à forte corrélation électronique. Par la suite, les résultats obtenus sur les polymères sont résumés par deux articles. Le premier traite de la variation de la bande interdite entre les polymères pontés et leurs homologues non pontés. Le second se penche sur l’étude de polymères à faible largeur de bande interdite. Dans ce dernier, il sera démontré qu’une fonctionnelle hybride, contenant de l’échange exact, est nécessaire afin de décrire les propriétés électroniques des systèmes à l’étude. Finalement, le dernier chapitre est consacré à l’étude des cuprates supraconducteurs. La LDA+U pouvant rendre compte de la forte localisation dans les orbitales 3d des atomes de cuivre, une étude de l’impact de cette fonctionnelle sur les propriétés électroniques est effectuée. Un dernier article investiguant différents ordres magnétiques dans le La2CuO4 dopé termine le dernier chapitre. On trouve aussi, en annexe, un complément d’information pour le second article et une description de la théorie de la supraconductivité de Bardeen, Cooper et Schrieffer. / Description of complex systems by Density functional theory is treated in this thesis. First, the Density functional theory and a few functionals used to simulate cristals are presented. Specifically, the LDA and GGA functionnals are described and their limits are exposed. Furthermore, the Hubbard model as well as the LDA+U functionnal are addressed in this chapter. These methods enable the study of highly correlated materials. Then, results obtained on polymers are summarized in two articles. The first one treats the band gap variation of ladder-type polymers compared to non ladder type ones. The second article considers small band gap polymers. In this case, it will be shown that an hybrid functional, which contains exact exchange, is required to describe the electronic properties of the polymers under study. Finally, the last chapter address the study of cuprates superconductors. The LDA+U can account for the localization of electrons in copper orbitals. Consequently, a study of the impact of this functionnal on electronic properties of cuprates is conducted. The chapter is ended by an article treating magnetic orders in doped La2CuO4. Supplementary materials of the second article and a description of the theory of superconductivity of Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer are put in annex.

Orientador: Valdeci Pereira Mariano de Souza / Resumo: Neste trabalho de Mestrado foram explorados aspectos fundamentais da Fı́sica do Estado Sólido através de três frentes de pesquisa. A primeira e principal frente de pesquisa é referente ao estudo da chamada fase ferroelétrica de Mott-Hubbard nos condutores moleculares orgânicos quase-unidimensionais da famı́lia (TMTTF)2X, onde TMTTF é a molécula tetrametiltetratiafulvaleno e X é um contra-ânion monovalente. Tal investigação foi realizada através de experimentos de constante dielétrica e o denominado Positive Up Negative Down (PUND) a qual permite obter informações acerca da polarização elétrica intrı́nseca de um sistema ferroelétrico. Os resultados mostram a anisotropia para a constante dielétrica e a presença de polarização intrı́nseca abaixo de Tco . Uma segunda frente é relacionada às oscilações de cargas em sólidos onde foi investigado o quão suscetı́vel tais oscilações são à variações de volume. Esta análise foi realizada através do cálculo do parâmetro de Grüneisen fonônico para a frequência de plasma. Os cálculos realizados mostram que as oscilações de carga são fortemente influenciadas por variações de volume e, consequentemente de pressão. A última frente de estudo é relacionada ao solo da Amazônia conhecido como Terra Preta de Índio para o qual foram realizadas medidas de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica. Esta permitiu obter informações acerca de propriedades conectadas ao spin eletrônico do sistema. As medidas mostram um possı́vel ordenamento ferromagnético na T... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In this Master thesis, fundamental aspects of Solid State Physics were explored through three research topics. The first and main research topic is the investigation of the so-called Mott-Hubbard ferroelectric phase in quasi-one-dimensional organic molecular conductors of the (TMTTF)2X family, where TMTTF is the tetramethyltetrathiafulvalene molecule and X is a monovalent counter-anion. This investigation was carried out through dielectric constant and the so-called Positive Up Negative Down (PUND) experiments, which enable to obtain physical information about the intrinsic electric polarization of a ferroelectric system. Our results reveled the anisotropy of the the dielectric constant and the presence of intrinsic electric polarization below Tco . The second topic is related to the charge oscillations in solids, the so-called plasma frequency, where it was investigated how susceptible such frequency is to volume variations. This analysis was performed by calculating the phononic Grüneisen parameter for the plasma frequency. The calculations reveled that the charge oscillations are strongly influenced by changes in volume and, consequently, of pressure. The last research topic is related to the Amazonian soil known as Terra Preta de Índio, for which electron spin resonance measurements were performed. This allowed to obtain information about properties connected to the electronic spin of the system. The measurements reveled a possible ferromagnetic ordering in TPI, which may... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Dans une première partie, la structure électronique de deux membres de la famille des Analogues de Bleu de Prusse (ABP) a été inspectée à l'aide de méthodes basées sur la fonction d'onde. Dans l'ABP NiFe, un changement du couplage magnétique a été mis en évidence lors d'une déformation structurale locale. Basé sur les résultats obtenus pour l'ABP CoFe, un rôle clé dans le processus photomagnétique observé dans ce matériau est attribué aux lacunes cristallines. Dans une deuxième partie, un développement méthodologique a été mené jusqu'à l'implémentation de la méthode FRACCIS (FRAgmented Contracted Configuration Interaction of Single excitations). Elle permet de concentrer l'effort numérique sur un petit nombre de déterminants physiquement importants. De plus, elle constitue un outil d'analyse pour mesurer l'importance de certaines excitations dans le système inspecté. L'application à (H2)2 et C4H6 montre qu'une réduction majeure de l'espace d'IC est possible en gardant une bonne précision par rapport aux valeurs de référence. Ce travail contribue aux efforts vers l'analyse rationnelle de la corrélation électronique. / In the first part, the electronic structure of two members of the family of Prussian Blue Analogues (PBA) has been inspected using wave function-based methods. The NiFe PBA exhibits a change of the magnetic coupling under a local structural deformation. Based on the results obtained for the CoFe PBA, a key role in the photomagnetic process observed in this material is attributed to the crystal vacancies. In a second part, a methodological development has been carried out and has lead to the implementation of the FRACCIS method (FRAgmented Contracted Configuration Interaction of Single excitations). It allows to concentrate the numerical effort on a small number of physically relevant determinants. Furthermore, it constitutes an analysis tool to measure the importance of certain excitations in the inspected system. The application to (H2)2 et C4H6 shows that a major reduction of the CI space is possible while keeping good accuracy with respect to reference values. This work contributes to the efforts towards a rational analysis of electronic correlation.

L'avènement de la physique attoseconde a amené de nouveaux challenges tant expérimentaux que théoriques. En effet, l'observation de processus dynamiques, intervenant aux échelles de temps intrinsèques des mouvements des charges aux échelles atomiques, permet d'envisager des nouveaux processus pour lesquels le rôle des corrélations et des couplages non-adiabatiques deviennent primordiaux. Les travaux présentés dans ce manuscrit s'inscrivent dans le cadre de l'étude des molécules complexes, en particulier carbonées, soumises à une impulsion lumineuse courte. Pour de telles échelles de temps (femtoseconde / attoseconde) et d'énergie (IR / UVX), les principales approximations permettant l'étude des systèmes électroniques ne sont plus valides. Cette thèse présente les simulations théoriques réalisées permettant l'étude théorique de molécules dans de telles conditions. L'étude des dynamiques de migration de charges corrélées au sein des molécules de benzène, de différents hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques ainsi qu'au sein de molécules d'intérêt biologique telles que la phénylalanine, a été réalisée. Ce type de dynamiques n'a jamais pu être observé expérimentalement. Une attention particulière a donc été portée à la faisabilité d'une expérience dans le cas de la molécule de benzène. Les relaxations non-adiabatiques de la molécule de naphtalène soumise à une impulsion UVX ont été étudiées. Enfin, les dynamiques à l'échelle du cycle optique, rencontrées par un groupe de molécules de taille intermédiaire soumis à une impulsion IR, ont été abordées. Ces simulations ont permis d'interpréter des expériences pompe-sonde réalisées par des membres de notre équipe / The advent of attosecond physics has brought new experimental and theoretical challenges. Indeed, the observation of dynamic processes occurring at the intrinsic time scale of charge motion at atomic scale, allows to consider new processes for which the role of correlations and non-adiabatic couplings become primordial. The work presented in this manuscript falls in the context of the study of complex molecules subject to a short light pulse. For such time (femtosecond / attosecond) and energy scales (IR / XUV), the main approximations that permit the study of electronic systems are no longer appropriate. In this thesis, we present the simulations realized for the theoretical study of molecules in such conditions. We studied the correlated charge migration dynamics in several molecules like the benzene, different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and molecules of biological interest such as phenylalanine. This kind of dynamics has never been observed experimentally. Hence, a particular attention was paid to the feasibility of an experiment in the case of the benzene molecule. The non-adiabatic relaxations of the naphthalene molecule subjected to a XUV pulse were also studied. Finally, dynamics occurring at the optical cycle time scale experienced by a group of medium-sized molecules subject to an IR pulse, were discussed. These simulations were used to interpret pump-probe experiments made by members of our team

La présente thèse traite de la description de systèmes complexes, notamment des polymères et des cuprates, par la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité. En premier lieu, la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité ainsi que différentes fonctionnelles utilisées pour simuler les matériaux à l’étude sont présentées. Plus spécifiquement, les fonctionnelles LDA et GGA sont décrites et leurs limites sont exposées. De plus, le modèle de Hubbard ainsi que la fonctionnelle LDA+U qui en découle sont abordés dans ce chapitre afin de permettre la simulation des propriétés de matériaux à forte corrélation électronique. Par la suite, les résultats obtenus sur les polymères sont résumés par deux articles. Le premier traite de la variation de la bande interdite entre les polymères pontés et leurs homologues non pontés. Le second se penche sur l’étude de polymères à faible largeur de bande interdite. Dans ce dernier, il sera démontré qu’une fonctionnelle hybride, contenant de l’échange exact, est nécessaire afin de décrire les propriétés électroniques des systèmes à l’étude. Finalement, le dernier chapitre est consacré à l’étude des cuprates supraconducteurs. La LDA+U pouvant rendre compte de la forte localisation dans les orbitales 3d des atomes de cuivre, une étude de l’impact de cette fonctionnelle sur les propriétés électroniques est effectuée. Un dernier article investiguant différents ordres magnétiques dans le La2CuO4 dopé termine le dernier chapitre. On trouve aussi, en annexe, un complément d’information pour le second article et une description de la théorie de la supraconductivité de Bardeen, Cooper et Schrieffer. / Description of complex systems by Density functional theory is treated in this thesis. First, the Density functional theory and a few functionals used to simulate cristals are presented. Specifically, the LDA and GGA functionnals are described and their limits are exposed. Furthermore, the Hubbard model as well as the LDA+U functionnal are addressed in this chapter. These methods enable the study of highly correlated materials. Then, results obtained on polymers are summarized in two articles. The first one treats the band gap variation of ladder-type polymers compared to non ladder type ones. The second article considers small band gap polymers. In this case, it will be shown that an hybrid functional, which contains exact exchange, is required to describe the electronic properties of the polymers under study. Finally, the last chapter address the study of cuprates superconductors. The LDA+U can account for the localization of electrons in copper orbitals. Consequently, a study of the impact of this functionnal on electronic properties of cuprates is conducted. The chapter is ended by an article treating magnetic orders in doped La2CuO4. Supplementary materials of the second article and a description of the theory of superconductivity of Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer are put in annex.