Generalized density-functional theory: Conquering theN-representability problem with exact functionals for the electron pair density and the second-order reduced density matrix

Using the constrained search and Legendre-transform formalisms, one can derive “generalized” density-functional theories, in which the fundamental variable is either the electron pair density or the second-order reduced density matrix. In both approaches, theN-representability problem is solved by the functional, and the variational principle is with respect to all pair densities (density matrices) that are nonnegative and appropriately …