Symmetry breaking and the random-phase approximation in small quantum dots

Abstract

The random-phase approximation has been used to compute the properties of parabolic two-dimensional quantum dots beyond the mean-field approximation. Special emphasis is put on the ground state correlation energy, the symmetry restoration and the role of the spurious modes within the random-phase approximation. A systematics with the Coulombic interaction strength is presented for the 2-electron dot, while for the 6- and 12-electron dots selected cases are discussed. The validity of the random-phase approximation is assessed by comparison with available exact results.

9 pages, 4 embedded + 6 gif Figs. Published version