Lattice dielectric properties of rutile TiO2 : First-principles anharmonic self-consistent phonon study

We calculate the lattice dielectric function of strongly anharmonic rutile $\mathrm{TiO}_2$ from ab initio anharmonic lattice dynamics methods. Since an accurate calculation of the $\Gamma$ point phonons is essential for determining optical properties, we employ the modified self-consistent approach, including third-order anharmonicity as well as fourth-order anharmonicity. The resulting optical phonon frequencies and linewidths at the $\Gamma$ point much better agree with experimental measurements than those from a perturbative approach. We show that the four-phonon scattering process contributes as much as the third-order anharmonic term to phonon linewidths. Furthermore, incorporating the frequency dependence of phonon linewidth reveals that experimentally known but unidentified peaks of the dielectric function are due to two-phonon process. This work emphasizes the importance of a self-consistent approach in predicting the optical properties of highly anharmonic materials.