Correlated wave functions and the absence of long-range order in numerical studies of the Hubbard model

We present a formulation of the constrained path Monte Carlo method for fermions that uses trial wave functions that include many-body effects. This formulation allows us to implement a whole family of generalized mean-field states as constraints. As an example, we calculated superconducting pairing correlation functions for the two-dimensional repulsive Hubbard model using a BCS trial state as the constraint. We compared the results with the case where a free-electron trial wave function is used. We found that the correlation functions are independent of which state is used as the constraint, which reaffirms the results previously found by Zhang et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 4486 (1997)] regarding the suppression of long-range pairing correlations as the system size increases. [S0163-1829(99)03303-2].