Self-consistent extension of random-phase approximation enlarged beyond particle-hole configurations

Abstract

We present a new extension of the random-phase approximation method: the quasiboson approximation is avoided and correlations are included in the ground state without resorting to renormalized operators or renormalized matrix elements; the configuration space is enlarged by considering also elementary excitations corresponding to the annihilation of a particle (hole) and the creation of another particle (hole) on the correlated ground state, together with the particle-hole ones. Two new and relevant advantages of this method with respect to the existing extensions of random-phase approximation are highlighted: (i) the energy weighted sum rules are completely satisfied; (ii) the problem of the existence of nonphysical states in the spectrum, related to the inclusion of particle-particle and hole-hole configurations, is solved: a way to unambiguously disentangle physical from nonphysical states in the excitation spectrum is presented. The method is applied here to a three-level Lipkin model where its quality can be judged by comparing with the exact results. Both advantages (i) and (ii) shall lead to feasible future applications of this extended RPA to several realistic cases.