An effective quantum parameter for strongly correlated metallic ferromagnets.

The correlated motion of electrons in metallic ferromagnets is investigated in terms of a realistic interacting-electron model with N-fold orbital degeneracy and intra-orbital (U) and inter-orbital (J) Coulomb interactions. Correlation-induced self-energy and vertex corrections are incorporated systematically to provide a non-perturbative Goldstone-mode-preserving scheme. An effective quantum parameter [U2+(N-1)J2]/[U+(N-1)J]2 is obtained which determines, in analogy with 1/S for quantum spin systems and 1/N for the N-orbital Hubbard model, the strength of correlation-induced quantum corrections to magnetic excitations. The rapid suppression of this quantum parameter with Hund's coupling J, especially for large N, provides fundamental insight into the phenomenon of strong stabilization of metallic ferromagnetism by orbital degeneracy and Hund's coupling. Correlation effects are investigated for spin stiffness, magnon dispersion, electronic spectral function, density of states, and finite-temperature spin dynamics using realistic bandwidth, interaction, and lattice parameters for iron.