Trilayer multiorbital models of <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mi>La</mml:mi><mml:mn>4</mml:mn></mml:msub><mml:msub><mml:mi>Ni</mml:mi><mml:mn>3</mml:mn></mml:msub><mml:msub><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">O</mml:mi><mml:mn>10</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math>
Cui-Qun Chen, Zhihui Luo, Meng Wang, Wéi Wú, Dao-Xin Yao
Abstract
Recently, the discovery of superconductivity in Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) ${\mathrm{La}}_{4}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{10}$ under pressure has further expanded the realm of nickelate-based superconductor family. In this paper, we perform a first-principles study of ${\mathrm{La}}_{4}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{10}$ for both the $P{2}_{1}/a$ phase at ambient pressure and $I4/mmm$ phase at high pressure, with $U=0$, 3.5 eV. Our results confirm the characteristic upward shift of a $\mathrm{Ni}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{d}_{{z}^{2}}$ bonding band under pressure. Moreover, our analysis of electronic spectrum and orbital occupancy unveil the dynamic mechanism of electronic reconstructions under pressure, embedded in a critical dual effect. Based on our results, we further propose a trilayer two-orbital model by performing Wannier downfolding on $\mathrm{Ni}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{e}_{g}$ orbitals. Our model reveals four Fermi surface sheets with $\ensuremath{\alpha},\ensuremath{\beta},{\ensuremath{\beta}}^{\ensuremath{'}},\ensuremath{\gamma}$ pockets, bearing resemblance to that of bilayer ${\mathrm{La}}_{3}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$. According to the model, our calculated spin susceptibility under random phase approximation shows that the ${d}_{{x}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{y}^{2}}$ orbital is also important for the magnetic fluctuation in the RP series. Finally, a high energy 16-orbital model with direct $dp,pp$ hoppings is proposed, which implies that ${\mathrm{La}}_{4}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{10}$ also lies in the charge-transfer picture within the Zaanen-Sawatzky-Allen scheme. Our exposition of electronic reconstructions and multiorbital models shed light on theoretical electronic correlation study and experimental exploration of lower pressure superconductors in the RP series.