Thermodynamics of the 3D Hubbard model on approach to the Neel transition

We study the thermodynamic properties of the 3D Hubbard model for temperatures down to the Neel temperature using cluster dynamical mean-field theory. In particular we calculate the energy, entropy, density, double occupancy and nearest-neighbor spin correlations as a function of chemical potential, temperature and repulsion strength. To make contact with cold-gas experiments, we also compute properties of the system subject to an external trap in the local density approximation. We find that an entropy per particle $S/N \approx 0.65(6)$ at $U/t=8$ is sufficient to achieve a Neel state in the center of the trap, substantially higher than the entropy required in a homogeneous system. Precursors to antiferromagnetism can clearly be observed in nearest-neighbor spin correlators.