High-order electron-correlation methods with scalar relativistic and spin-orbit corrections

An assortment of computer-generated, parallel-executable programs of ab initio electron-correlation methods has been fitted with the ability to use relativistic reference wave functions. This has been done on the basis of scalar relativistic and spin-orbit effective potentials and by allowing the computer-generated programs to handle complex-valued, spinless orbitals determined by these potentials. The electron-correlation methods that benefit from this extension are high-order coupled-cluster methods (up to quadruple excitation operators) for closed- and open-shell species, coupled-cluster methods for excited and ionized states (up to quadruples), second-order perturbation corrections to coupled-cluster methods (up to triples), high-order perturbation corrections to configuration-interaction singles, and active-space (multireference) coupled-cluster methods for the ground, excited, and ionized states (up to active-space quadruples). A subset of these methods is used jointly such that the dynamical correlation energies and scalar relativistic effects are computed by a lower-order electron-correlation method with more extensive basis sets and all-electron relativistic treatment, whereas the nondynamical correlation energies and spin-orbit effects are treated by a higher-order electron-correlation method with smaller basis sets and relativistic effective potentials. The authors demonstrate the utility and efficiency of this composite scheme in chemical simulation wherein the consideration of spin-orbit effects is essential: ionization energies of rare gases, spectroscopic constants of protonated rare gases, and photoelectron spectra of hydrogen halides.     

Relativistic corrections to the non-Born-Oppenheimer energies of the lowest singlet Rydberg states of 3He and 4He

In this work the authors present an approach to calculate the leading-order relativistic corrections for ground and excited states of helium isotopomers. In the calculations they used variational wave functions expanded in terms of explicitly correlated Gaussians obtained without assuming the Born-Oppenheimer approximation.     

Darwin and mass-velocity relativistic corrections in non-Born-Oppenheimer variational calculations

The Pauli approach to account for the mass-velocity and Darwin relativistic corrections has been applied to the formalism for quantum mechanical molecular calculations that does not assume the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) approximation regarding separability of the electronic and nuclear motions in molecular systems. The corrections are determined using the first order perturbation theory and are derived for the non-BO wave function of a diatomic system expressed in terms of explicitly correlated Gaussian functions with premultipliers in the form of even powers of the internuclear distance. As a numerical example we used calculations of the transition energies for pure vibrational states of the HD(+) ion.     

New theoretical investigation resolving discrepancies of atomic form factors and attenuation coefficients in the near-edge soft X-ray regime

Reliable knowledge of the complex X-ray form factor and the photoelectric attenuation coefficient is required for crystallography, medical diagnosis, radiation safety and XAFS studies. Discrepancies between currently used theoretical approaches of 200% exist for numerous elements for X-ray energies from 1 to 3 keV. This work addresses key discrepancies and derives theoretical results in near-edge soft X-ray regions.

DHF wave functions are employed and computational and convergence issues are of direct concern. Comparisons with simpler wave functions, including additional relativistic corrections to the form factors, are insightful.

The current result improves upon the theoretical uncertainty in these regions to an estimated standard deviation of 20–30%.     

Quantum Monte Carlo study of the first-row atoms and ions

Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of the first-row atoms Li-Ne and their singly positively charged ions are reported. Multideterminant-Jastrow-backflow trial wave functions are used which recover more than 98% of the correlation energy at the variational Monte Carlo level and more than 99% of the correlation energy at the diffusion Monte Carlo level for both the atoms and ions. We obtain the first ionization potentials to chemical accuracy. We also report scalar relativistic corrections to the energies, mass-polarization terms, and one- and two-electron expectation values.     

Quasi-relativistic approximation in the SCF-MO-LCAO method

A quasi-relativistic approach to the MO-LCAO method is formulated taking into account the relativistic effects with an accuracy up to (v/c)² terms, the relativistic part of the electronic interaction in the Hamiltonian being neglected. In the framework of this approximation a set of SCF equations of the Roothaan form is derived; here only the relativistic analogue to the closed shell systems with one-determinant wave functions is considered. In so doing three types of relativistic corrections arise which are quite similar to those of the Pauli equation for one-electron atoms. The new matrix elements appearing due to these corrections can be reduced to some common integrals, which have to be calculated with relativistic radial atomic functions. The method allows a semi-empirical approach to the problem and does not require the Dirac four-component atomic functions (unknown in the most cases), thus making possible approximate quasi-relativistic electronic structure calculations of heavy-atom compounds.     

Vibrational–rotational energies of all H2 isotopomers using Monte Carlo methods

Using variational Monte Carlo techniques, we have computed several of the lowest rotational–vibrational energies of all the hydrogen molecule isotopomers (H₂, HD, HT, D₂, DT, and T₂). These calculations do not require the excited states to be explicitly orthogonalized. We have examined both the usual Gaussian wave function form as well as a rapidly convergent Padé form. The high‐quality potential energy surfaces used in these calculations are taken from our earlier work and include the Born–Oppenheimer energy, the diagonal correction to the Born–Oppenheimer approximation, and the lowest‐order relativistic corrections at 24 internuclear points. Our energies are in good agreement with those determined by other methods. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Relativistic contributions to single and double core electron ionization energies of noble gases

We have performed relativistic calculations of single and double core 1s hole states of the noble gas atoms in order to explore the relativistic corrections and their additivity to the ionization potentials. Our study unravels the interplay of progression of relaxation, dominating in the single and double ionization potentials of the light elements, versus relativistic one-electron effects and quantum electrodynamic effects, which dominate toward the heavy end. The degree of direct relative additivity of the relativistic corrections for the single electron ionization potentials to the double electron ionization potentials is found to gradually improve toward the heavy elements. The Dirac-Coulomb Hamiltonian is found to predict a scaling ratio of ～4 for the relaxation induced relativistic energies between double and single ionization. Z-scaling of the computed quantities were obtained by fitting to power law. The effects of nuclear size and form were also investigated and found to be small. The results indicate that accurate predictions of double core hole ionization potentials can now be made for elements across the full periodic table.     

Electron affinity of (7)Li calculated with the inclusion of nuclear motion and relativistic corrections

Explicitly correlated Gaussian functions have been used to perform very accurate variational calculations for the ground states of (7)Li and (7)Li(-). The nuclear motion has been explicitly included in the calculations (i.e., they have been done without assuming the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) approximation). An approach based on the analytical energy gradient calculated with respect to the Gaussian exponential parameters was employed. This led to a noticeable improvement of the previously determined variational upper bound to the nonrelativistic energy of Li(-). The Li energy obtained in the calculations matches those of the most accurate results obtained with Hylleraas functions. The finite-mass (non-BO) wave functions were used to calculate the alpha(2) relativistic corrections (alpha=1c). With those corrections and the alpha(3) and alpha(4) corrections taken from Pachucki and Komasa [J. Chem. Phys. 125, 204304 (2006)], the electron affinity (EA) of (7)Li was determined. It agrees very well with the most recent experimental EA.     

A second-quantization framework for the unified treatment of relativistic and nonrelativistic molecular perturbations by response theory

A formalism is presented for the calculation of relativistic corrections to molecular electronic energies and properties. After a discussion of the Dirac and Breit equations and their first-order Foldy-Wouthuysen [Phys. Rev. 78, 29 (1950)] transformation, we construct a second-quantization electronic Hamiltonian, valid for all values of the fine-structure constant alpha. The resulting alpha-dependent Hamiltonian is then used to set up a perturbation theory in orders of alpha(2), using the general framework of time-independent response theory, in the same manner as for geometrical and magnetic perturbations. Explicit expressions are given to second order in alpha(2) for the Hartree-Fock model. However, since all relativistic considerations are contained in the alpha-dependent Hamiltonian operator rather than in the wave function, the same approach may be used for other wave-function models, following the general procedure of response theory. In particular, by constructing a variational Lagrangian using the alpha-dependent electronic Hamiltonian, relativistic corrections can be calculated for nonvariational methods as well.     

Energies,fine structures,and radiative lifetimes for the multiexcited quartet states of B‐like oxygen

Energies for the multiexcited states 1s²2s2pnl and 1s²2p²nl ⁴P^e,o (n ≥ 2) of B‐like oxygen are calculated using Rayleigh–Ritz variation method with configuration interaction. The mass polarization and relativistic corrections are obtained with first‐order perturbation theory. Configuration structures of the high‐lying multiexcited series are identified by energies and contribution to normalization of angular‐spin components. These structures are further checked by calculations of relativistic corrections and fine structure splittings. Hyperfine parameters and hyperfine coupling constants are calculated for the first time. Wavelengths including quantum electrodynamic effect and higher‐order relativistic corrections and lifetimes are also calculated. These results are compared with available results in the literature. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Relativistic effects in low-energy spin-dependent electron collisions with rare-gas atoms

The relativistic effects in low-energy spin-dependent electron scattering from rare-gas atoms Ar, Kr and Xe are analyzed by comparing the results obtained respectively with Dirac-Fock, Cowan's quasirelativistic Hartree-Fock and non-relativistic Hartree-Fock wave functions for target atoms. It is shown that the intra-target relativistic effects, in particular the explicit spin dependences of the one-electron orbitals of Dirac-Fock atomic wave function, create apparet quantitative changes in the spin polarization parameters at some collision energies and scattering angles.     

A theoretical study of the excited states of AmO2n+, n=1,2,3

The ground and excited states of the AmO(2) (+), AmO(2) (2+), and AmO(2) (3+) ions have been studied using the four-component configuration interaction singles doubles, spin-orbit complete active space self-consistent field, and spin-orbit complete active space-order perturbation theory methods. The roles of scalar relativistic effects and spin-orbit coupling are analyzed; results with different methods are carefully compared by a precise analysis of the wave functions. A molecular spinor diagram is used in relation to the four-component calculations while a ligand field model is used for the two-step method. States with the same number of electrons in the four nonbonding orbitals are in very good agreement with the two methods while ligand field and charge transfer states do not have the same excitation energies.     

Accurate non-Born-Oppenheimer calculations of the complete pure vibrational spectrum of D2 with including relativistic corrections

In this work we report very accurate variational calculations of the complete pure vibrational spectrum of the D(2) molecule performed within the framework where the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) approximation is not assumed. After the elimination of the center-of-mass motion, D(2) becomes a three-particle problem in this framework. As the considered states correspond to the zero total angular momentum, their wave functions are expanded in terms of all-particle, one-center, spherically symmetric explicitly correlated Gaussian functions multiplied by even non-negative powers of the internuclear distance. The nonrelativistic energies of the states obtained in the non-BO calculations are corrected for the relativistic effects of the order of α(2) (where α = 1/c is the fine structure constant) calculated as expectation values of the operators representing these effects.     

New relativistic atomic natural orbital basis sets for lanthanide atoms with applications to the Ce diatom and LuF3

New basis sets of the atomic natural orbital (ANO) type have been developed for the lanthanide atoms La-Lu. The ANOs have been obtained from the average density matrix of the ground and lowest excited states of the atom, the positive ions, and the atom in an electric field. Scalar relativistic effects are included through the use of a Douglas-Kroll-Hess Hamiltonian. Multiconfigurational wave functions have been used with dynamic correlation included using second-order perturbation theory (CASSCF/CASPT2). The basis sets are applied in calculations of ionization energies and some excitation energies. Computed ionization energies have an accuracy better than 0.1 eV in most cases. Two molecular applications are included as illustration: the cerium diatom and the LuF3 molecule. In both cases it is shown that 4f orbitals are not involved in the chemical bond in contrast to an earlier claim for the latter molecule.     

Orbit-orbit relativistic corrections to the pure vibrational non-Born-Oppenheimer energies of H(2)

We report the derivation of the orbit-orbit relativistic correction for calculating pure vibrational states of diatomic molecular systems with sigma electrons within the framework that does not assume the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) approximation. The correction is calculated as the expectation value of the orbit-orbit interaction operator with the non-BO wave function expressed in terms of explicitly correlated Gaussian functions multiplied by even powers of the internuclear distance. With that we can now calculate the complete relativistic correction of the order of alpha(2) (where alpha=1/c). The new algorithm is applied to determine the full set of the rotationless vibrational levels and the corresponding transition frequencies of the H(2) molecule. The results are compared with the previous calculations, as well as with the frequencies obtained from the experimental spectra. The comparison shows the need to include corrections higher than second order in alpha to further improve the agreement between the theory and the experiment.     

A ground state potential energy surface for H2 using Monte Carlo methods

Using variational Monte Carlo and a simple explicitly correlated wave function we have computed the Born-Oppenheimer energy of the H2 ground state (X 1Sigmag+) at 24 internuclear distances. We have also calculated the diagonal correction to the Born-Oppenheimer approximation and the lowest-order relativistic corrections at each distance using variational Monte Carlo techniques. The nonadiabatic values are evaluated from numerical derivatives of the wave function with respect to the nuclear coordinates. With this potential energy surface we have computed several of the lowest vibrational-rotational energies for this system. Our results are in good agreement with the best values found in the literature.     

On the acceleration of the convergence of singular operators in Gaussian basis sets

Gaussian type wave functions do not reproduce the interparticle cusps which result in a slow convergence of the expectation values of the operators involved in calculations of the relativistic and QED energy corrections. Methods correcting this deficiency are the main topic discussed in this paper. Benchmark expectation values of the singular operators for several few-electron systems are presented.     

Electronic structure of molecules using one-component wave functions and relativistic effective core potentials

A one-component approach to molecular electronic structure is discussed that includes the dominant relativistic effects on valence electrons and yet allows the use of the traditional quantum-chemistry techniques. The approach starts with one-component Cowan–Griffin relativistic orbitals that successfully incorporate the effects of the mass-velocity and Darwin terms present in more complicated wave functions such as the Dirac–Hartree–Fock. The approach then constructs “relativistic” effective core potentials (RECPS ) from these orbitals, and uses these to bring the relativistic effects into the molecular electronic calculations. The use of effective one-electron spin-orbit operators in conjunction with these one-component wave functions to include the effects of spin-orbit coupling is discussed. Applications to molecular systems involving heavy atoms and comparisons with available spectroscopic data on molecular geometries and excitation energies are presented. Finally, a new approach to the construction of RECPS encompassing the Hamiltonian and shapeconsistent approach is presented together with a novel analysis of the long-range behavior of the RECPS .     

Accurate relativistic energy-consistent pseudopotentials for the superheavy elements 111 to 118 including quantum electrodynamic effects

Energy-consistent two-component semi-local pseudopotentials for the superheavy elements with atomic numbers 111-118 have been adjusted to fully relativistic multi-configuration Dirac-Hartree-Fock calculations based on the Dirac-Coulomb Hamiltonian, including perturbative corrections for the frequency-dependent Breit interaction in the Coulomb gauge and lowest-order quantum electrodynamic effects. The pseudopotential core includes 92 electrons corresponding to the configuration [Xe]4f(14)5d(10)5f(14). The parameters for the elements 111-118 were fitted by two-component multi-configuration Hartree-Fock calculations in the intermediate coupling scheme to the total energies of 267 up to 797 J levels arising from 31 up to 62 nonrelativistic configurations, including also anionic and highly ionized states, with mean absolute errors clearly below 0.02 eV for averages corresponding to nonrelativistic configurations. Primitive basis sets for one- and two-component pseudopotential calculations have been optimized for the ground and excited states and exhibit finite basis set errors with respect to the finite-difference Hartree-Fock limit below 0.01 and 0.02 eV, respectively. General contraction schemes have been applied to obtain valence basis sets of polarized valence double- to quadruple-zeta quality. Results of atomic test calculations in the intermediate coupling scheme at the Fock-space coupled-cluster level are in good agreement with those of corresponding fully relativistic all-electron calculations based on the Dirac-Coulomb-Breit Hamiltonian. The results demonstrate besides the well-known need of a relativistic treatment at the Dirac-Coulomb level also the necessity to include higher-order corrections for the superheavy elements.