Bypassing the malfunction junction in warm dense matter simulations

Abstract: Simulation of warm dense matter requires computational methods that capture both quantum and classical behavior efficiently under high-temperature, high-density conditions. Currently, density functional theory molecular dynamics is used to model electrons and ions, but this method's computational cost skyrockets as temperatures and densities increase. We propose finite-temperature potential functional theory as an in-principle-exact alternative that suffers no such drawback. We derive an orbital-free free energy approximation through a coupling-constant formalism. Our density approximation and its associated free energy approximation demonstrate the method's accuracy and efficiency.