Meta-GGA SCAN Functional in the Prediction of Ground State Properties of Magnetic Materials: Review of the Current State

Abstract

In this review, we consider state-of-the-art density functional theory (DFT) investigations of strongly correlated systems performed with the meta-generalized gradient approximation (meta-GGA) strongly constrained and appropriately normed (SCAN) functional during the last five years. The study of such systems in the framework of the DFT is complicated because the well-known exchange–correlation functionals of the local density approximation (LDA) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) families are not designed for strong correlations. The influence of the exchange–correlation effects beyond classical LDA and GGA are considered in view of the prediction of the ground state structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of the magnetic materials, including pure metals, binary compounds, and multicomponent Heusler alloys. The advantages of SCAN and points to be enhanced are discussed in this review with the aim of reflecting the modern state of computational materials science.