Magnetic properties in polyacetylene: Exploring electronic correlation effects through density functional theory

Polyacetylene, a simple polymer, has long been studied for its unique electronic properties, yet the role of correlation in polyacetylene still is not clear. Here, we employ various density functional theory formulations to explore its effects on magnetic characteristics of polyacetylene by ab initio basis. Our results indicate that subtle correlation effects beyond the generalized gradient approximation lead to the formation of spin-density wave solutions on the π-conjugated carbon p orbitals that could compete with other solutions, possibly leading to emergence of intertwined orders. Our study suggests that the phase diagram of polyacetylene should be explored further.