Modeling the actinides with disordered local moments

A first-principles disordered local moment (DLM) picture within the local-spin-density and coherent potential approximations of the actinides is presented. The parameter-free theory gives an accurate description of bond lengths and bulk modulus. The case of $\ensuremath{\delta}$-Pu is studied in particular, and the calculated density of states is compared to data from photoelectron spectroscopy. The relation between the DLM description, the dynamical mean-field approach, and spin-polarized magnetically ordered modeling is discussed.