Electron-phonon coupling in correlated metals: A dynamical mean-field theory study

Understanding how phonons affect the properties of correlated quantum materials is a fundamental issue in materials theory. Here, the authors develop a method to calculate the interaction between electrons and lattice vibrations in such materials using computational methods capable of treating entangled electrons in real materials, and apply it to paradigmatic correlated systems SrVO${}_{3}$ and CaCuO${}_{2}$. The couplings are found to differ substantially from those predicted by standard density functional methods, with the differences reflecting the underlying physics of the materials. This work sets the stage for a comprehensive approach beyond density functional theory of electron-phonon interactions in quantum materials.