Gutzwiller–RVB theory of high-temperature superconductivity: Results from renormalized mean-field theory and variational Monte Carlo calculations

Abstract

We review the resonating valence bond (RVB) theory of high-temperature superconductivity using Gutzwiller projected wave functions that incorporate strong correlations. After a general overview of the phenomenon of high-temperature superconductivity, we discuss Anderson's RVB picture and its implementation by renormalized mean-field theory (RMFT) and variational Monte Carlo (VMC) techniques. We review RMFT and VMC results with an emphasis on recent developments in extending VMC and RMFT techniques to excited states. We compare results obtained from these methods with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). We conclude by summarizing recent successes of this approach and discuss open problems that need to be solved for a consistent and complete description of high-temperature superconductivity using Gutzwiller projected wave functions.