538 Ch.

10 The Correlated Metallic State

where nd is the density of doubly occupied sites. The dependence of nd

on n and U / t is obtained from the numerical solution of the optimization
problem. However, we get a simple expression for U + 0;) when (for
n < 1) nd + 0
2(1 - n)
(Q)u+oo = (10.21)
2-n
It stands to reason that the result should be proportional to 1 - n,
since this is the probability of finding a site empty. Let us consider the
hopping of an f-spin electron. If the neighbouring site is also occupied
by an ?-spin electron, the electron cannot hop there because of the Pauli
principle. If it is occupied by a $-spin electron, hopping is impossible
because of the infinitely large U. Thus hopping can take place only onto
an empty site. All methods for treating the strong correlation problem
give the factor 1 - n. However, they may give different results for the
constant of proportionality. Indeed, it is not obvious how to interpret
the factor 1/(1- n/2) that we can read off from (10.21). Why do not
we get simply q = 1 - n ?
One can argue that Some factor should accompany 1 - n. We gain
insight into this question by generalizing the variational treatment to
the case of a Gutzwiller-projected spin-polarized Fermi sea. Let us allow
that the f-spin and $-spin electron densities differ: nt # ni. The total
+
electron density is n = n t ni, and the state is homogeneous. The
spin-dependent qa is given in (C.20). Taking the limit U + 00, and
u =t,we get
(10.22)

In the non-magnetic case nt = n i = n/2 and (10.21) is recovered. On

the other hand, if we consider the fully spin-polarized case n t = n, q t
becomes 1. It is clear why: if all electrons have ?-spins, then the Pauli
principle (which has been taken into account by the antisymmetrical na-
ture of the wave function of the Fermi sea) guarantees that two electrons
never sit on the same site, and the Hubbard U does not play any role.
Thus (10.21) and (10.22) can be thought to express that the hopping
amplitude is reduced by the correlation effect according to the factor
(1 - n), to the extent that double occupation is permitted by the Pauli
principle.