Local Orbitals

In this section we will describe how to obtain the Local Orbitals (LOs). The details of the theory are described in Ref. [1]. The starting point is a DFT calculation in LCAO mode:

from gpaw.lcao.local_orbitals import LocalOrbitals
calc = GPAW(mode='lcao', ...)
los = LocalOrbitals(calc)

The local orbitals are obtained from a sub-diagonalization of the LCAO Hamiltonian. A sub-diagonalization is essentially a rotation that brings the Hamiltonian in a form where some blocks are diagonal matrices. Each block should include all Atomic Orbitals of a given atom. This tranformation can be performed with the subdiagonalization method:

los.subdiagonalize(symbols: Array1D = None, blocks: list[list] = None, groupby: str = 'energy')

The blocks can be specified with one of the two keyword arguments:

symbols: Element or elements to sub-diagonalize, optional.

Automatically constructs the blocks for the specified element or elements.

blocks: Blocks to sub-diagonalize, optional.

Directly provides the blocks in the form of a list of orbital indices, e.g. [[3,4,5],[6,7..]..].

Once the Hamiltonian is sub-diagonalized, the method tries to group the obtained LOs by symmetry:

groupby: Grouping criteria.

  • energy : Groups the LOs by energy

  • symmetry : Groups the LOs by spatial symmetry and energy

It is possible to fine-tune the grouping after a sub-diagonalization with the following method:

los.groupby(method: str = 'energy', decimals: int = 1, cutoff: float = 0.9),
decimals: Round energies to the given number of decimals

Groups the LOs with an energy equivalent up to the given number of decimals.

cutoff: Cutoff spatial overlap, (0,1]

Groups the LOs with a spatial overlap larger than the given cutoff value.

Next, we construct a low-energy model from a subset of LOs and/or AOs:

los.take_model(indices: Array1D = None, minimal: bool = True, cutoff: float = 1e-3, ortho: bool = False)
indices: Orbitals to include in the low-energy model, optional

Explicitely lists the orbital indices in the sub-diagonalized Hamiltonian. When left unspecified, the method will automacally select the orbitals in each block with the energy closest to the Fermi level. We call this minimal model.

minimal: Limit the selection to the given indices

  • True : Default value.

  • False : Extend the minimal model with the groups of LOs connecting to the minimal model with at least one matrix element in the Hamiltonian larger than cutoff.

otho: Orthogonalize the low-energy model

Orthogonalizes the orbitals in the low-energy model. We advise to use this flag only for minimal models.

Local Orbitals in benzene molecule

As a first example we generate the local orbitals (LOs) of an isolated benzene molecule C6H6.py.

benzene = molecule('C6H6', vacuum=5)

# LCAO calculation
calc = GPAW(mode='lcao', xc='LDA', basis='szp(dzp)', txt=None)
benzene.calc = calc
benzene.get_potential_energy()

# LCAO wrapper
lcao = LCAOwrap(calc)

# Construct a LocalOrbital Object
los = LocalOrbitals(calc)

# Subdiagonalize carbon atoms and group by energy.
los.subdiagonalize('C', groupby='energy')
# Groups of LOs are stored in a dictionary >>> los.groups

# Dump pz-type LOs in cube format
fig = los.plot_group(-6.9)
fig.savefig('C6H6_pzLOs.png', dpi=300, bbox_inches='tight')

# Take minimal model
los.take_model(minimal=True)
# Get the size of the model >>> len(los.model)
# Assert that the Hamiltonian has the same
# dimensions >> los.get_hamiltonian().shape

# Assert model indeed conicides with pz-type LOs
assert los.indices == los.groups[-6.9]

# Compare eigenvalues with LCAO
compare_eigvals(lcao, los, 'C6H6_minimal.png', 'minimal=True')

# Extend with groups of LOs that overlap with the minimal model
los.take_model(minimal=False)
# Get the size of the model >>> len(los.model)

# Assert model is extended with other groups.
assert los.indices == (los.groups[-6.9] + los.groups[20.2] + los.groups[21.6])

# Compare eigenvalues with LCAO
compare_eigvals(lcao, los, 'C6H6_extended.png', 'minimal=False')

Here, we have omitted the import statements and the declaration of the compare_eigvals helper function to visually compare the eigenvalues of the low-energy model with the full LCAO calculation as horizontal lines.

minimal extended

Isourfaces of local orbitals with pz-character.

extended

Local Orbitals in graphene nanoribbon

As a second example we generate the local orbitals (LOs) of a graphene nanoribbon C4H2.py.

gnr = graphene_nanoribbon(2, 1, type='zigzag', saturated=True,
                          C_H=1.1, C_C=1.4, vacuum=5.0)

# LCAO calculation
calc = GPAW(mode='lcao',
            xc='LDA',
            basis='szp(dzp)',
            txt=None,
            kpts={'size': (1, 1, 11),
                  'gamma': True},
            symmetry={'point_group': False,
                      'time_reversal': True})
gnr.calc = calc
gnr.get_potential_energy()

# Start post-process
tb = TightBinding(calc.atoms, calc)

# Construct a LocalOrbital Object
los = LocalOrbitals(calc)

# Subdiagonalize carbon atoms and group by symmetry and energy.
los.subdiagonalize('C', groupby='symmetry')

# Take minimal model
los.take_model(minimal=True)

# Compare the bandstructure of the effective model and compare it with LCAO
compare_bandstructure(tb, los, "C4H2_minimal.png", "minimal=True")

# Extend with groups of LOs that overlap with the minimal model
los.take_model(minimal=False)

# Compare the bandstructure of the effective model and compare it with LCAO
compare_bandstructure(tb, los, "C4H2_extended.png", "minimal=False")

Again, we have omitted the import statements and the declaration of the compare_bandstructure helper function to compare the bands of the low-energy model with the full LCAO calculation.

minimal extended