Improved estimators for the self-energy and vertex function in hybridization-expansion continuous-time quantum Monte Carlo simulations

We propose efficient measurement procedures for the self-energy and vertex function of the Anderson impurity model within the hybridization expansion continuous-time quantum Monte Carlo algorithm. The method is based on the measurement of higher-order correlation functions related to the quantities being sought through the equation of motion, a technique previously introduced in the numerical renormalization-group context. For the case of interactions of density-density type, the additional correlators can be obtained at essentially no additional computational cost. In combination with a recently introduced method for filtering the Monte Carlo noise using a representation in terms of orthogonal polynomials, we obtain data with unprecedented accuracy. This leads to an enhanced stability in analytical continuations of the self-energy or in two-particle-based theories such as the dual fermion approach. As an illustration of the method we reexamine the previously reported spin-freezing and high-spin to low-spin transitions in a two-orbital model with density-density interactions. In both cases, the vertex function undergoes significant changes, which suggests significant corrections to the dynamical mean-field solutions in dual fermion calculations.