Unification of Perdew-Zunger Self-Interaction Correction, DFT+U, and Rung 3.5 Density Functionals

Abstract: We unify the Perdew-Zunger self-interaction correction (PZSIC) to approximate density functional theory (DFT), the Hubbard correction DFT+U, and Rung 3.5 functionals within the Adiabatic Projection formalism. We modify the Kohn-Sham reference system, introducing electron self-interaction in selected states. Choosing those states as localized orbitals, localized atomic states, or states at each point in space recovers PZSIC, DFT+U, and Rung 3.5. Typical Hubbard U parameters approximate scaled-down PZSIC. A Rung 3.5 variant of DFT+U opens a band gap in the homogeneous electron gas.