Parallelization of four‐component calculations. I. Integral generation,SCF, and four‐index transformation in the Dirac–Fock package MOLFDIR

The treatment of relativity and electron correlation on an equal footing is essential for the computation of systems containing heavy elements. Correlation treatments that are based on four‐component Dirac–Hartree–Fock calculations presently provide the most accurate, albeit costly, way of taking relativity into account. The requirement of having two expansion basis sets for the molecular wave function puts a high demand on computer resources. The treatment of larger systems is thereby often prohibited by the very large run times and files that arise in a conventional Dirac–Hartree–Fock approach. A possible solution for this bottleneck is a parallel approach that not only reduces the turnaround time but also spreads out the large files over a number of local disks. Here, we present a distributed‐memory parallelization of the program package MOLFDIR for the integral generation, Dirac–Hartree–Fock and four‐index MS transformation steps. This implementation scales best for large AO spaces and moderately sized active spaces. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 21: 1176–1186, 2000     

Depurated inversion method for orbital‐specific exchange potentials

This work presents exchange potentials for specific orbitals calculated by inverting Hartree–Fock wavefunctions. This was achieved by using a Depurated Inversion Method. The basic idea of the method relies on the substitution of Hartree–Fock orbitals and eigenvalues into the Kohn–Sham equation. Through inversion, the corresponding effective potentials were obtained. Further treatment of the inverted potential should be carried on. The depuration is a careful optimization which eliminates the poles and also ensures the fullfilment of the appropriate boundary conditions. The procedure developed here is not restricted to the ground state or to a nodeless orbital and is applicable to all kinds of atoms. As an example, exchange potentials for noble gases and term‐dependent orbitals of the lower configuration of Nitrogen are calculated. The method allows to reproduce the input energies and wavefunctions with a remarkable degree of accuracy.     

Comparative study of the Hartree–Fock and the Hartree–Fock–Slater method

The Hartree–Fock method (standard Roothaan closed-shell HF –LCAO theory) and the Hartree–Fock–Slater method (restricted HFS –LCAO –DV method developed by Baerends and Ros) have been compared with emphasis on the respective one-electron equations and on the matrix elements of the respective Fock operators. Using the same STO basis in the two cases, the matrix elements of the Fock operators and of their separate one-electron, Coulomb, and exchange contributions have been calculated for the same orbitals and density of the ground state of the diatomic molecule ZnO. The effects of methodical (exchange potential) and numerical (DV method, density fit) differences between the HF and HFS methods on the various matrix elements have been analyzed. As expected the methodical effect prevails and is responsible for the higher (less negative) values of the matrix elements of the HFS Fock operator compared to those of the HF Fock operator. Numerical effects are observable also and are caused by the difference in integration procedures (DV method), not by the density fit.     

Attractive electron–electron interactions within robust local fitting approximations

An analysis of Dunlap's robust fitting approach reveals that the resulting two‐electron integral matrix is not manifestly positive semidefinite when local fitting domains or non‐Coulomb fitting metrics are used. We present a highly local approximate method for evaluating four‐center two‐electron integrals based on the resolution‐of‐the‐identity (RI) approximation and apply it to the construction of the Coulomb and exchange contributions to the Fock matrix. In this pair‐atomic resolution‐of‐the‐identity (PARI) approach, atomic‐orbital (AO) products are expanded in auxiliary functions centered on the two atoms associated with each product. Numerical tests indicate that in 1% or less of all Hartree–Fock and Kohn–Sham calculations, the indefinite integral matrix causes nonconvergence in the self‐consistent‐field iterations. In these cases, the two‐electron contribution to the total energy becomes negative, meaning that the electronic interaction is effectively attractive, and the total energy is dramatically lower than that obtained with exact integrals. In the vast majority of our test cases, however, the indefiniteness does not interfere with convergence. The total energy accuracy is comparable to that of the standard Coulomb‐metric RI method. The speed‐up compared with conventional algorithms is similar to the RI method for Coulomb contributions; exchange contributions are accelerated by a factor of up to eight with a triple‐zeta quality basis set. A positive semidefinite integral matrix is recovered within PARI by introducing local auxiliary basis functions spanning the full AO product space, as may be achieved by using Cholesky‐decomposition techniques. Local completion, however, slows down the algorithm to a level comparable with or below conventional calculations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Variation of parameters in Becke‐3 hybrid exchange‐correlation functional

We have investigated the consequences of varying the three parameters in Becke's hybrid exchange‐correlation functional, which includes five contributions: Hartree–Fock exchange, local exchange, Becke's gradient exchange correction, local correlation, and some form of gradient correlation correction. Our primary focus was upon obtaining orbital energies with magnitudes that are reasonable approximations to the electronic ionization potentials; however, we also looked at the effects on molecular geometries and atomization enthalpies. A total of 12 parameter combinations was considered for each of three different gradient correlation corrections: the Lee–Yang–Parr, the Perdew‐86, and the Perdew–Wang 91. Five molecules were included in the study: HCN, N₂, N₂O, F₂O, and H₂O. For comparison, a Hartree–Fock calculation was also carried out for each of these. The 6‐31+G** basis set was used throughout this work. We found that the ionization potential estimates can be greatly improved (to much better than Hartree–Fock levels) by increasing the Hartree–Fock exchange contribution at the expense of local exchange. In itself, this also introduces major errors in the atomization enthalpies. However, this can be largely or even completely counteracted by reducing or eliminating the role of the gradient exchange correction. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 21: 227–238, 2000     

Examination of several density functionals in numerical Kohn–Sham calculations for atoms

We studied several exchange‐only and exchange–correlation energy density functionals in numerical, i.e., basis‐set‐free, nonrelativistic Kohn–Sham calculations for closed‐shell ¹S states of atoms and atomic ions with N electrons, where 2≤N≤120. Accurate total energies are presented to serve as reference data for algebraic approaches, as do the numerical Hartree–Fock results, which are also provided. Gradient‐corrected exchange‐only functionals considerably improve the total energies obtained from the usual local density approximation, when compared to the Hartree–Fock results. Such an improvement due to gradient corrections is not seen in general for highest orbital energies, neither for exchange‐only results (to be compared with Hartree–Fock results), nor for exchange–correlation results (to be compared with experimental ionization energies). © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 82: 227–241, 2001     

Formulation of unrestricted and restricted Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov equations

The Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov (HFB) method, dealing with Bogoliubov orbitals, which consist of particle and hole part, can provide states with pair correlations associated with Cooper pairs. The dimension of HFB Fock matrices can be reduced by restrictions of spin states of Bogoliubov orbitals similarly to ordinary Hartree–Fock (HF) equations such as restricted HF (RHF), unrestricted HF (UHF), and generalized HF (GHF). However, there are few studies of moderate restricted HFB equations such as UHF‐based HFB equations. In this article, formulation and calculations of restricted HFB equations are described. The solutions of general and restricted HFB equations are compared. Pair correlations taking account of restricted and general HFB equations are discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004     

Modeling exact exchange potential in spherically confined atoms

In this work, local exchange potentials corresponding to the Hartree–Fock (HF) electron density have been obtained using the Zhao–Morrison–Parr method for a number of closed‐shell confined atoms and ions. The exchange potentials obtained and the resulting density were compared with those given by the Becke–Johnson (BJ) model potential. It is demonstrated that introducing a scaling factor to the BJ potential allows improving the quality of the resulting density. The optimum scaling factor increases with decreasing confinement radius. The performance of Karasiev and Ludeña's SCα‐LDA method as well as of the Becke‐88 exchange potential for reproducing the HF electron densities in confined atoms has been also examined. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Improved generator coordinate Hartree–Fock method applied to generate Gaussian basis sets for the isoelectronic series of the atoms He to Ne

We have generated Gaussian basis sets (GBSs) for the neutral and the first 20 cations members of the isoelectronic series of each ground state atom from He to Ne with the improved generator coordinate Hartree–Fock (IGCHF) method. For all atomic species studied here, our total energy errors are smaller than those calculated by the original GCHF method using GBSs of the same sizes. The largest difference between our total energy results and those computed with a numerical Hartree–Fock approach is equal to 215 μhartree for Co¹⁷⁺. We also compare the ionization potentials obtained with the IGCHF with the corresponding experimental values. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 88: 252–262, 2002     

Accurate atomic Gaussian basis functions for second-row atoms: Small split-valence 3-21SP and 4-22SP basis sets

Small split-valence Gaussian 3-21SP and 4-22SP basis sets, previously reported for the first-row atoms [Chem. Phys. Lett., 229 , 151 (1996)], have been extended for the second-row elements of the Periodic Table. The total energies of the ground states of the second-row atoms calculated with the new basis sets are significantly lower than those obtained with the well-known 3-21G (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 104 , 2797 (1982)] and 4-31G [J. Chem. Phys., 56 , 5255 (1972)] basis sets. This is because, as first noted in our previous work for first-row atoms, that the 3-21G and 4-31G basis sets only correspond to a local minimum of the Hartree–Fock energy functional, which is relatively far from its global minimum. The proposed basis sets have been tested by performing geometry optimizations and calculations of normal frequencies in the harmonic approximation of some diatomic and polyatomic molecules at the Hartree–Fock level. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 18: 1200–1210     

Coulomb-Hole–Hartree–Fock functional

We have extended to molecules a density functional previously parametrized for atomic computations. The Coulomb-hole–Hartree–Fock functional, introduced by Clementi in 1963, estimates the dynamical correlation energy by the computations of a Hartree–Fock-type single-determinant wave function, where the Hartree–Fock potential was augmented with an effective potential term, related to a hard Coulomb hole enclosing each electron. The method was later revisited by S. Chakravorty and E. Clementi [Phys. Rev. A 39 , 2290 (1989)], where a Yukawa-type soft Coulomb hole replaced the previous hard hole; atomic correlation energies, computed for atoms with Z = 2 to Z = 54 as well as for a number of excited states, validated the method. In this article, we parametrized a function, which controls the width of the soft Coulomb hole, by fitting the first and second atomic ionization potentials of the atoms with 1 ? Z ? 18. The parametrization has been preliminarily validated by computing the dissociation energy for a number of molecules. A few-determinant version of the Coulomb-hole–Hartree–Fock method, necessary to account for the nondynamic correlation corrections, is briefly discussed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Deflation techniques in quantum chemistry: Excited states from ground states

Applications of deflation techniques to the study of excited states of quantum systems are analyzed. It is demonstrated how these methods allow us to transform the excited state problem of one Hamiltonian, into the ground state problem of an auxiliary one. As an example, potential application in the density functional treatment of excited states is discussed. The inclusion of approximations in this scheme, such as the solution of the proposed model within a finite basis set is discussed. An extension of the Hartree–Fock (HF) method to excited states is presented. This new treatment includes previous self consistent field extensions to excited states and provides us with a way to obtain the HF extension to excited states of any ground state method. These results make the excited states of a system accessible through all ground state theoretical techniques. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Ab initio study of organic mixed valency

A series of six radical cations of the type (D L D)⁺ was investigated at the ab initio unrestricted Hartree–Fock level. One localized and one delocalized conformation were systematically searched by full geometry optimization. At both nuclear arrangements, mostly found as being minima in the symmetry‐restrained Hartree–Fock framework, excitation energies were calculated through the expansion of the wave function on single electronic excitations of the Hartree–Fock fundamental determinant and at the unrestricted Hartree–Fock or at the multiconfigurational self consistent field levels. Few calculations were also performed by taking into account some part of the electronic correlation. Except for N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethyl p‐phenylenediamine, all the studied compounds are localized stable cations, at the symmetry‐restrained Hartree–Fock level. However, the reoptimization of their wave function changes this observation since only three of them seem to conserve a localized stable conformation. Most of the studied systems are characterized by one or two excited electronic states very close to the fundamental one and should thus present an unresolved broadened first absorption band in the near‐infrared region. These features are in agreement with the available experimental data. Strong Hartree–Fock instabilities are found for the delocalized structure and put in relation with the existence of the large nonadiabatic coupling in this conformational region. The solvent influence is discussed in the Onsager dipolar reaction field framework. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 76: 552–573, 2000     

Hartree–Fock instabilities and electronic properties

Hartree–Fock instabilities are investigated for about 80 compounds, from acetylene to mivazerol (27 atoms) and a cluster of 18 water molecules, within a double ζ basis set. For most conjugated systems, the restricted Hartree–Fock wave function of the singlet fundamental state presents an external or so‐called triplet instability. This behavior is studied in relation with the electronic correlation, the vicinity of the triplet and singlet excited states, the electronic delocalization linked with resonance, the nature of eventual heteroatoms, and the size of the systems. The case of antiaromatic systems is different, because they may present a very large internal Hartree–Fock instability. Furthermore, the violation of Hund's rule, observed for these compounds, is put in relation with the fact that the high symmetry structure in its singlet state has no feature of a diradical‐like species. It appears that the triplet Hartree–Fock instability is directly related with the spin properties of nonnull orbital angular momentum electronic systems. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 21: 483–504, 2000     

Exact-exchange Hartree–Fock calculations for periodic systems. I. Illustration of the method

A scheme is presented for performing linear-combination-of-atomic-orbitals (LCAO ) self-consistent-field (SCF ) ab initio Hartree–Fock calculations of the electronic structure of periodic systems. The main aspects which characterize the present method are (i) a thorough discussion of both translational and local symmetry properties and the derivation of general formulas for the transformation of all the relevant monoelectronic and bielectronic terms under symmetry operators. (ii) The use of general yet powerful criteria for the truncation of infinite sums; in particular, the Coulomb electron–electron interactions are subdivided into terms corresponding to intersecting or nonintersecting charge distributions; the latter are grouped into shell contributions and the interaction is evaluated by multipolar expansions; the exchange interaction may be evaluated with great precision by retaining a relatively small number of two-electron integrals according to a truncation criterion which fully preserves its nonlocal character. (iii) The use of a procedure for performing integrals over k , as needed in the evaluation of the Fermi energy and in the reconstruction of the Fock matrix, which is particularly simple because it employs partially intersecting small spheres as integration subdomains where linear extrapolation is admitted. A comparison is finally made of our fundamental equations in the critical SCF stage with those obtainable by a recent proposal which uses Fourier transforms to express Coulomb and exchange integrals.     

Analytical Hartree–Fock wave functions subject to cusp and asymptotic constraints: He to Xe,Li+ to Cs+, H− to I−

Analytical, variational approximations to Hartree–Fock wave functions are constructed for the ground states of all the neutral atoms from He to Xe, the cations from Li⁺ to Cs⁺, and the stable anions from H⁻ to I⁻. The wave functions are constrained so that each atomic orbital agrees well with the electron–nuclear cusp condition and has good long‐range behavior. Painstaking optimization of the exponents and principal quantum numbers of the Slater‐type basis functions allows us to reach this goal while obtaining total energies that, at worst, are a few microHartrees above the numerical Hartree–Fock limit values. The wave functions are freely available by anonymous ftp from okapi.chem.unb.ca or upon request to the authors. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 71: 491–497, 1999     

Spin–other–orbit and spin–orbit interactions in ƒ2 and ƒ3 electron configurations

Expressions of the matrix elements of the spin–other–orbit and spin–orbit interactions for the various multiplets of all the states of ?²- and ?³-electron configurations are reported and used to evaluate the Hartree–Fock values of these interactions in the neutral atoms Ce(4?²), Pr(4?³), Ho(4?¹¹) and Er(4?¹²). The required values of the spin–spin parameters M, and the spin-orbit parameter ζ for these atoms were obtained using numerical Hartree–Fock wave functions.