Hubbard-U-corrected electron-phonon interactions in strongly correlated materials via the finite-displacement method
Pith reviewed 2026-05-21 02:25 UTC · model grok-4.3
The pith
Hubbard U corrections applied to electron-phonon g-matrices keep coupling weak in hole-doped LaNiO2 while stabilizing phonons in RuO2.
A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.
Core claim
By extending the finite-displacement method so that Hubbard U acts on the electron-phonon g matrices as well as on the electronic and phonon structures, the work finds that the electron-phonon coupling in 20% hole-doped LaNiO2 stays small and cannot account for superconductivity, while the corrections remove imaginary modes and substantially lower the coupling in RuO2 on a TiO2 substrate.
What carries the argument
The algorithm that integrates the DFT+U correction with the finite-displacement method and applies the U term directly to the electron-phonon g matrices.
If this is right
- Electron-phonon coupling is unlikely to explain superconductivity in hole-doped infinite-layer nickelates.
- Hubbard U corrections are required to obtain real phonon frequencies in strained RuO2 films.
- Fermi-surface shape controls the size of the electron-phonon coupling more strongly than a simple additive U correction.
Where Pith is reading between the lines
- The same finite-displacement plus U procedure can be used to reassess electron-phonon roles in other correlated oxides.
- Self-consistent adjustment of U or inclusion of higher-order correlation terms could further modify the reported g-matrix values.
Load-bearing premise
The chosen Hubbard U values on the nickel and ruthenium orbitals capture the correlation strength, and Fermi-surface topology differences between DFT+U and GW fully explain the contrast in computed coupling strengths.
What would settle it
A measurement or independent calculation that finds an electron-phonon coupling strength in 20% hole-doped LaNiO2 large enough to produce a 10-30 K transition temperature would falsify the insufficiency claim.
Figures
read the original abstract
Although the density functional theory plus Hubbard $U$ correction method (DFT+U) is broadly used to study electronic structure of strongly correlated materials, the extension of this method to electron-phonon $g$ matrices has received limited attention. Here, we implement an algorithm that integrates DFT+U method with the finite-displacement method for the calculations of phonons and electron-phonon $g$ matrices. The Hubbard $U$ corrections are applied not only to electronic and phonon structures, but, more importantly, also to electron-phonon $g$ matrices. We demonstrate our algorithm in two prototypical correlated materials: infinite-layer nickelates LaNiO$_2$ and ruthenium dioxide RuO$_2$. We find that: i) While the Hubbard $U$ corrections weakly increase the electron-phonon interaction of 20% hole-doped LaNiO$_2$, its total electron-phonon coupling remains small and is insufficient to account for the observed superconducting transition temperature of about 10-30 K. Our results contrast with the recent work showing that the full GW corrections yield an elevated electron-phonon coupling of 20% hole-doped LaNiO$_2$ five times larger than its DFT value. We attribute this discrepancy to the differences in the Fermi surface topology between DFT+$U$ and GW methods. ii) The inclusion of Hubbard $U$ corrections eliminates the imaginary phonon modes of RuO$_2$ under strain on the TiO$_2$ substrate and substantially reduces the electron-phonon coupling. Our results alleviate the discrepancy between the reported large theoretical electron-phonon coupling and the low superconducting transition temperature observed experimentally. Our work provides an algorithm that fully includes the Hubbard $U$ corrections on electron-phonon properties of correlated materials, and highlights the importance of Fermi surface shape and correlation effects on phonon spectrum and electron-phonon $g$ matrices.
Editorial analysis
A structured set of objections, weighed in public.
Referee Report
Summary. The manuscript implements an algorithm integrating the DFT+U method with the finite-displacement approach to compute phonons and electron-phonon g-matrices, applying Hubbard U corrections directly to the g-matrices. For 20% hole-doped LaNiO2, it reports that U weakly increases the total electron-phonon coupling λ but the value remains small and insufficient to explain the observed Tc of 10-30 K, attributing the contrast with prior GW results (which yield ~5× larger λ) to differences in Fermi-surface topology. For strained RuO2 on TiO2, U eliminates imaginary phonon modes and substantially lowers λ, helping reconcile theory with low experimental Tc. The work emphasizes the importance of correlation effects on phonon spectra and g-matrices.
Significance. If the central results hold after verification, the algorithm provides a practical route to include strong-correlation corrections in electron-phonon calculations for materials such as infinite-layer nickelates and ruthenates. This is relevant for assessing whether electron-phonon coupling can account for superconductivity in these systems. The direct application of U to g-matrices and the demonstration of its effects on phonon stability represent useful methodological progress, particularly given the experimental context for both compounds.
major comments (2)
- [§4] §4 (LaNiO2 results): The attribution of the large discrepancy in λ between DFT+U and the referenced GW calculation entirely to Fermi-surface topology differences is not supported by quantitative evidence in the manuscript, such as explicit comparison of FS contours or DOS on the same k-grid. This attribution is load-bearing for the claim that DFT+U λ is too small to explain Tc ~10-30 K.
- [Method and results sections] Method and results sections: The specific Hubbard U values chosen for Ni 3d and Ru 4d orbitals lack reported sensitivity tests (e.g., variation of U by ±2 eV and its effect on λ). If λ changes by more than ~30% under such variation, the quantitative conclusions on insufficiency for superconductivity in LaNiO2 and reduction in RuO2 would require revision.
minor comments (2)
- [Abstract and §1] Abstract and §1: The experimental Tc range of 'about 10-30 K' for LaNiO2 should include a specific citation to the relevant experimental work for clarity.
- [Figure captions and text] Figure captions and text: Ensure all convergence parameters (k-grid, displacement amplitude, U convergence) are stated explicitly in the main text rather than only in supplementary material, to allow reproducibility assessment.
Simulated Author's Rebuttal
We thank the referee for their positive assessment of our manuscript and for the constructive comments. We address each major comment below.
read point-by-point responses
-
Referee: §4 (LaNiO2 results): The attribution of the large discrepancy in λ between DFT+U and the referenced GW calculation entirely to Fermi-surface topology differences is not supported by quantitative evidence in the manuscript, such as explicit comparison of FS contours or DOS on the same k-grid. This attribution is load-bearing for the claim that DFT+U λ is too small to explain Tc ~10-30 K.
Authors: We agree that an explicit side-by-side comparison of Fermi-surface contours and DOS on the same k-grid would provide stronger quantitative support for attributing the λ discrepancy to differences in Fermi-surface topology. In the revised manuscript we will add such a comparison, drawing on the band structures already computed in our DFT+U calculations and contrasting them with the topology reported in the referenced GW study. This addition will reinforce our conclusion that the DFT+U value of λ remains insufficient to explain the observed Tc. revision: yes
-
Referee: Method and results sections: The specific Hubbard U values chosen for Ni 3d and Ru 4d orbitals lack reported sensitivity tests (e.g., variation of U by ±2 eV and its effect on λ). If λ changes by more than ~30% under such variation, the quantitative conclusions on insufficiency for superconductivity in LaNiO2 and reduction in RuO2 would require revision.
Authors: We acknowledge the value of sensitivity tests for the Hubbard U parameters. In the revised manuscript we will report additional calculations in which U for the Ni 3d and Ru 4d orbitals is varied by ±2 eV, showing the resulting changes in λ and the phonon spectra. These tests will either confirm the robustness of our quantitative conclusions or prompt appropriate adjustments to the discussion of superconductivity in LaNiO2 and the stabilization in RuO2. revision: yes
Circularity Check
No significant circularity detected; results are direct computational outputs.
full rationale
The paper implements and applies an extension of the finite-displacement method to incorporate Hubbard U corrections into electronic structure, phonons, and electron-phonon g matrices. Reported quantities (weak U-induced increase in λ for hole-doped LaNiO2 remaining too small for observed Tc; elimination of imaginary modes and reduction of λ in strained RuO2) are obtained from explicit calculations with chosen U values on Ni 3d and Ru 4d orbitals. No equation reduces these outputs to the inputs by construction, no parameter is fitted to the target e-ph coupling and then relabeled as a prediction, and no load-bearing premise rests solely on a self-citation chain. The contrast with prior GW results and the attribution to Fermi-surface topology differences are interpretive comparisons against external calculations rather than internal reductions. The derivation chain consists of independent, verifiable computational steps that remain self-contained against experimental Tc values and prior literature.
Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger
free parameters (1)
- Hubbard U for Ni and Ru d orbitals
axioms (1)
- domain assumption DFT+U provides a sufficient description of strongly correlated electrons for extending corrections to lattice and electron-phonon properties
Lean theorems connected to this paper
-
IndisputableMonolith/Cost/FunctionalEquation.leanwashburn_uniqueness_aczel unclear?
unclearRelation between the paper passage and the cited Recognition theorem.
we implement an algorithm that integrates DFT+U method with the finite-displacement method for the calculations of phonons and electron-phonon g matrices... Hubbard U corrections are applied not only to electronic and phonon structures, but, more importantly, also to electron-phonon g matrices
-
IndisputableMonolith/Foundation/AlexanderDuality.leanalexander_duality_circle_linking unclear?
unclearRelation between the paper passage and the cited Recognition theorem.
The inclusion of Hubbard U corrections eliminates the imaginary phonon modes of RuO2 under strain... substantially reduces the electron-phonon coupling
What do these tags mean?
- matches
- The paper's claim is directly supported by a theorem in the formal canon.
- supports
- The theorem supports part of the paper's argument, but the paper may add assumptions or extra steps.
- extends
- The paper goes beyond the formal theorem; the theorem is a base layer rather than the whole result.
- uses
- The paper appears to rely on the theorem as machinery.
- contradicts
- The paper's claim conflicts with a theorem or certificate in the canon.
- unclear
- Pith found a possible connection, but the passage is too broad, indirect, or ambiguous to say the theorem truly supports the claim.
Reference graph
Works this paper leans on
- [1]
-
[2]
M. L. Kuli´ c, Physics Reports338, 1 (2000)
work page 2000
-
[3]
S. Y. Zhou, D. A. Siegel, A. V. Fedorov, and A. Lanzara, Phys. Rev. B78, 193404 (2008)
work page 2008
- [4]
-
[5]
Q. N. Meier, J. B. de Vaulx, F. Bernardini, A. S. Botana, X. Blase, V. Olevano, and A. Cano, Phys. Rev. B109, 184505 (2024)
work page 2024
-
[6]
Z. Li, M. Wu, Y.-H. Chan, and S. G. Louie, Phys. Rev. Lett.126, 146401 (2021)
work page 2021
- [7]
-
[8]
J. P. Ruf, H. Paik, N. J. Schreiber, H. P. Nair, L. Miao, J. K. Kawasaki, J. N. Nelson, B. D. Faeth, Y. Lee, B. H. Goodge, B. Pamuk, C. J. Fennie, L. F. Kourkoutis, D. G. Schlom, and K. M. Shen, Nature Communications12, 59 (2021)
work page 2021
-
[9]
D. J. Abramovitch, J. Mravlje, J.-J. Zhou, A. Georges, and M. Bernardi, Phys. Rev. Lett.133, 186501 (2024)
work page 2024
- [10]
-
[11]
H. J. Choi, D. Roundy, H. Sun, M. L. Cohen, and S. G. Louie, Phys. Rev. B66, 020513 (2002)
work page 2002
-
[12]
J. Ma, R. Yang, and H. Chen, Nature Communications12, 2314 (2021). 24
work page 2021
-
[13]
R. Lucrezi, P. P. Ferreira, S. Hajinazar, H. Mori, H. Paudyal, E. R. Margine, and C. Heil, Communications Physics7, 33 (2024)
work page 2024
-
[14]
D. A. Papaconstantopoulos, M. J. Mehl, and P.-H. Chang, Phys. Rev. B101, 060506 (2020)
work page 2020
-
[15]
S. Y. Savrasov and D. Y. Savrasov, Phys. Rev. B54, 16487 (1996)
work page 1996
-
[16]
W. L. McMillan, Phys. Rev.167, 331 (1968)
work page 1968
-
[17]
J.-Y. You, Z. Zhu, M. Del Ben, W. Chen, and Z. Li, npj Computational Materials11, 3 (2025)
work page 2025
-
[18]
Z. Luo, X. Hu, M. Wang, W. W´ u, and D.-X. Yao, Phys. Rev. Lett.131, 126001 (2023)
work page 2023
-
[19]
A. S. Botana and M. R. Norman, Phys. Rev. X10, 011024 (2020)
work page 2020
-
[20]
V. I. Anisimov, J. Zaanen, and O. K. Andersen, Phys. Rev. B44, 943 (1991)
work page 1991
-
[21]
M. T. Czy˙ zyk and G. A. Sawatzky, Phys. Rev. B49, 14211 (1994)
work page 1994
-
[22]
K. Higashi, M. Winder, J. Kuneˇ s, and A. Hariki, Phys. Rev. X11, 041009 (2021)
work page 2021
-
[23]
G. Wang, N. Wang, T. Lu, S. Calder, J. Yan, L. Shi, J. Hou, L. Ma, L. Zhang, J. Sun, B. Wang, S. Meng, M. Liu, and J. Cheng, npj Quantum Materials10, 1 (2025)
work page 2025
-
[24]
Z. Liu, Z. Ren, W. Zhu, Z. Wang, and J. Yang, npj Quantum Materials5, 31 (2020)
work page 2020
-
[25]
V. I. Anisimov, F. Aryasetiawan, and A. I. Lichtenstein, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter9, 767 (1997)
work page 1997
- [26]
- [27]
-
[28]
Carrier mobilities and electron-phonon interactions beyond dft,
A. Poliukhin, N. Colonna, F. Libbi, S. Ponc´ e, and N. Marzari, “Carrier mobilities and electron-phonon interactions beyond dft,” (2025), arXiv:2508.14852 [cond-mat.mtrl-sci]
-
[29]
Epw-vasp interface for first-principles calculations of electron- phonon interactions,
D. Radevych, A. Thorn, M. Engel, A. N. Kolmogorov, S. Tiwari, G. Kresse, F. Giustino, and E. R. Margine, “Epw-vasp interface for first-principles calculations of electron- phonon interactions,” (2025), arXiv:2511.21905 [cond-mat.mtrl-sci]
-
[30]
D. Li, K. Lee, B. Y. Wang, M. Osada, S. Crossley, H. R. Lee, Y. Cui, Y. Hikita, and H. Y. Hwang, Nature572, 624 (2019)
work page 2019
-
[31]
M. Hepting, D. Li, C. J. Jia, H. Lu, E. Paris, Y. Tseng, X. Feng, M. Osada, E. Been, Y. Hikita, Y. D. Chuang, Z. Hussain, K. J. Zhou, A. Nag, M. Garcia-Fernandez, M. Rossi, H. Y. Huang, D. J. Huang, Z. X. Shen, T. Schmitt, H. Y. Hwang, B. Moritz, J. Zaanen, T. P. Devereaux, and W. S. Lee, Nature Materials19, 381 (2020). 25
work page 2020
- [32]
- [33]
-
[34]
J. Karp, A. S. Botana, M. R. Norman, H. Park, M. Zingl, and A. Millis, Phys. Rev. X 10, 021061 (2020)
work page 2020
-
[35]
E. Been, W.-S. Lee, H. Y. Hwang, Y. Cui, J. Zaanen, T. Devereaux, B. Moritz, and C. Jia, Phys. Rev. X11, 011050 (2021)
work page 2021
-
[36]
C. Xia, J. Wu, Y. Chen, and H. Chen, Phys. Rev. B105, 115134 (2022)
work page 2022
-
[37]
Y. Gu, S. Zhu, X. Wang, J. Hu, and H. Chen, Communications Physics3, 84 (2020)
work page 2020
-
[38]
D. Li, B. Y. Wang, K. Lee, S. P. Harvey, M. Osada, B. H. Goodge, L. F. Kourkoutis, and H. Y. Hwang, Phys. Rev. Lett.125, 027001 (2020)
work page 2020
-
[39]
Q. Gu, Y. Li, S. Wan, H. Li, W. Guo, H. Yang, Q. Li, X. Zhu, X. Pan, Y. Nie, and H.-H. Wen, Nature Communications11, 6027 (2020)
work page 2020
-
[40]
B. Y. Wang, D. Li, B. H. Goodge, K. Lee, M. Osada, S. P. Harvey, L. F. Kourkoutis, M. R. Beasley, and H. Y. Hwang, Nature Physics17, 473 (2021)
work page 2021
-
[41]
S. Zeng, C. S. Tang, X. Yin, C. Li, M. Li, Z. Huang, J. Hu, W. Liu, G. J. Omar, H. Jani, Z. S. Lim, K. Han, D. Wan, P. Yang, S. J. Pennycook, A. T. S. Wee, and A. Ariando, Phys. Rev. Lett.125, 147003 (2020)
work page 2020
-
[42]
K. Lee, B. Y. Wang, M. Osada, B. H. Goodge, T. C. Wang, Y. Lee, S. Harvey, W. J. Kim, Y. Yu, C. Murthy, S. Raghu, L. F. Kourkoutis, and H. Y. Hwang, Nature619, 288 (2023)
work page 2023
- [43]
- [44]
- [45]
-
[46]
S. Zeng, C. Li, L. E. Chow, Y. Cao, Z. Zhang, C. S. Tang, X. Yin, Z. S. Lim, J. Hu, P. Yang, and A. Ariando, Science Advances8, eabl9927 (2022)
work page 2022
-
[47]
X. Ren, J. Li, W.-C. Chen, Q. Gao, J. J. Sanchez, J. Hales, H. Luo, F. Rodolakis, J. L. McChesney, T. Xiang, J. Hu, R. Comin, Y. Wang, X. Zhou, and Z. Zhu, Communications Physics6, 341 (2023). 26
work page 2023
-
[48]
L. E. Chow and A. Ariando, Frontiers in Physics10(2022)
work page 2022
- [49]
- [50]
-
[51]
S. Di Cataldo, P. Worm, L. Si, and K. Held, Phys. Rev. B108, 174512 (2023)
work page 2023
-
[52]
X. Sui, J. Wang, C. Chen, X. Ding, K.-J. Zhou, C. Cao, L. Qiao, H. Lin, and B. Huang, Phys. Rev. B107, 075159 (2023)
work page 2023
- [53]
-
[54]
Y. Qin, T. Yu, S. Deng, X.-Y. Zhou, D. Lin, Q. Zhang, Z. Jin, D. Zhang, Y.-B. He, H.-J. Qiu, L. He, F. Kang, K. Li, and T.-Y. Zhang, Nature Communications13, 3784 (2022)
work page 2022
-
[55]
C. A. Occhialini, V. Bisogni, H. You, A. Barbour, I. Jarrige, J. F. Mitchell, R. Comin, and J. Pelliciari, Phys. Rev. Res.3, 033214 (2021)
work page 2021
-
[56]
W. Dmowski, T. Egami, K. E. Swider-Lyons, C. T. Love, and D. R. Rolison, The Journal of Physical Chemistry B106, 12677 (2002)
work page 2002
-
[57]
Fenget al., Nature Communications16, 63344 (2025)
Z. Fenget al., Nature Communications16, 63344 (2025)
work page 2025
-
[58]
Gaoet al., Nature Communications16, 60891 (2025)
P. Gaoet al., Nature Communications16, 60891 (2025)
work page 2025
-
[59]
S. M. Griffinet al., Journal of Materials Chemistry C13, xxxx (2025)
work page 2025
-
[60]
Zhanget al., Nano Convergence13, 1 (2026)
Y. Zhanget al., Nano Convergence13, 1 (2026)
work page 2026
-
[61]
Z. Feng, X. Zhou, L. ˇSmejkal, L. Wu, Z. Zhu, H. Guo, R. Gonz´ alez-Hern´ andez, X. Wang, H. Yan, P. Qin, X. Zhang, H. Wu, H. Chen, Z. Meng, L. Liu, Z. Xia, J. Sinova, T. Jung- wirth, and Z. Liu, Nature Electronics5, 735 (2022)
work page 2022
- [62]
-
[63]
S. M. Hussain and K. Son, Physica B: Condensed Matter716, 417723 (2025)
work page 2025
-
[64]
D. Q. Ho, D. Q. To, R. Hu, G. W. Bryant, and A. Janotti, Phys. Rev. Mater.9, 094406 (2025)
work page 2025
-
[65]
T. Berlijn, P. C. Snijders, O. Delaire, H.-D. Zhou, T. A. Maier, H.-B. Cao, S.-X. Chi, M. Matsuda, Y. Wang, M. R. Koehler, P. R. C. Kent, and H. H. Weitering, Phys. Rev. Lett.118, 077201 (2017)
work page 2017
-
[66]
Pustogowet al., npj Spintronics2, 55 (2024)
A. Pustogowet al., npj Spintronics2, 55 (2024). 27
work page 2024
- [67]
- [68]
-
[69]
J. Liu, J. Zhan, T. Li, J. Liu, S. Cheng, Y. Shi, L. Deng, M. Zhang, C. Li, J. Ding, Q. Jiang, M. Ye, Z. Liu, Z. Jiang, S. Wang, Q. Li, Y. Xie, Y. Wang, S. Qiao, J. Wen, Y. Sun, and D. Shen, Phys. Rev. Lett.133, 176401 (2024)
work page 2024
- [70]
- [71]
-
[72]
H. Lee, S. Ponc´ e, K. Bushick, S. Hajinazar, J. Lafuente-Bartolome, J. Leveillee, C. Lian, J.-M. Lihm, F. Macheda, H. Mori, H. Paudyal, W. H. Sio, S. Tiwari, M. Zacharias, X. Zhang, N. Bonini, E. Kioupakis, E. R. Margine, and F. Giustino, npj Computational Materials9, 156 (2023)
work page 2023
-
[73]
S. Ponc´ e, E. Margine, C. Verdi, and F. Giustino, Computer Physics Communications 209, 116 (2016)
work page 2016
-
[74]
J.-J. Zhou, J. Park, I.-T. Lu, I. Maliyov, X. Tong, and M. Bernardi, Computer Physics Communications264, 107970 (2021)
work page 2021
-
[75]
J.-J. Zhou, J. Park, I. Timrov, A. Floris, M. Cococcioni, N. Marzari, and M. Bernardi, Phys. Rev. Lett.127, 126404 (2021)
work page 2021
-
[76]
P. Giannozzi, S. Baroni, N. Bonini, M. Calandra, R. Car, C. Cavazzoni, D. Ceresoli, G. L. Chiarotti, M. Cococcioni, I. Dabo, A. D. Corso, S. de Gironcoli, S. Fabris, G. Fratesi, R. Gebauer, U. Gerstmann, C. Gougoussis, A. Kokalj, M. Lazzeri, L. Martin-Samos, N. Marzari, F. Mauri, R. Mazzarello, S. Paolini, A. Pasquarello, L. Paulatto, C. Sbrac- cia, S. Sc...
work page 2009
-
[77]
K. Kaasbjerg, K. S. Thygesen, and K. W. Jacobsen, Phys. Rev. B85, 115317 (2012). 28
work page 2012
- [78]
-
[79]
Monserrat, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter30, 083001 (2018)
B. Monserrat, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter30, 083001 (2018)
work page 2018
- [80]
discussion (0)
Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.