We explore the phase diagram of the Hubbard model by generalizing the Gutzwiller variational wave function to take into account nearest-neighbor spin correlations. The energies of various variational states are calculated and compared. At half filling the lowest energy state has long-range antiferromagnetic correlations, in agreement with previous results. Away from half filling, when the antiferromagnet no longer has the lowest energy, the Gutzwiller approximation yields a lower energy than that found for small spin polarons.

• Received 5 January 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.39.11464