Jacob Wahlen-Strothman

Rice University
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Houston, TX 77005

Phone: 713-348-2679
Email:  jmw5@rice.edu

I am a graduate student at Rice University working with Dr. Gustavo E. Scuseria on model Hamiltonians and method development. I received my Bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont in 2012.

Project Description
My research considers new classes of operators for Hamiltonian transformations in a generalized coupled cluster model. Considering transformations beyond traditional particle-hole excitations provides more options and flexibility to improve upon mean-field wavefunctions. Tools from Lie algebra theory, generate candidate operators for transformations that can be evaluated in mean-field. The operators under consideration take the form of spin and density correlation functions and directly improve upon the corresponding correlations in a trial wavefunction.

Publications

• J. M. Wahlen-Strothman, C. A. Jiménez-Hoyos, T. M. Henderson, and G. E. Scuseria, Phys. Rev. B 91, 04110(R) (2015)