3D: numerics for 4th order term
The general features of 4th order vertex in 3d are similar to 2D. Just like in 2D crossing the line of 2kFcosα≈Q leads to interaction switch from attraction for larger Q to repulsion at smaller values.
3D plot of the vertex and the line cuts are shown in the attached figures.
In a range of Q, at low enough temperatures, there are well-defined minima in the vertex. However, in that regime, the vertex is attractive for all angles, signifying instability.
The situation can be remedied by introducing a separate repulsion source, which is momentum independent, as one coming from fully local 4th order term. The denominator of the Free energy for a variational state then acquires a stabilizing contribution [1−1/(2N)]C, where C parametrizes the strength of local repulsion and N is the number of ordered ±q pairs.
In addition to the coplanar 4th order vertex, there is also a non-coplanar one, which included for the case of FCC. It can always be chosen attractive, and hence matters.