Density matrix averaged atomic natural orbital (ANO) basis sets for correlated molecular wave functions

Summary Generally contracted basis sets for first row atoms have been constructed using the Atomic Natural Orbital (ANO) approach, with modifications for allowing symmetry breaking and state averaging. The ANOs are constructed by averaging over several atomic states, positive and negative ions, and atoms in an external electric field. The contracted basis sets give virtually identical results as the corresponding uncontracted sets for the atomic properties, which they have been designed to reproduce. The design objective has been to describe the ionization potential, the electron affinity, and the polarizability as accurately as possible. The result is a set of well-balanced basis sets for molecular calculations. The starting primitive sets are 8s4p3d for hydrogen, 9s4p3d for helium, and 14s9p4d3f for the heavier first row atoms.     

Density matrix averaged atomic natural orbital (ANO) basis sets for correlated molecular wave functions

Generally contracted basis sets for the first row transition metal atoms Sc-Zn have been constructed using the atomic natural orbital (ANO) approach, with modifications for allowing symmetry breaking and state averaging. The ANOs are constructed by averaging over the three electronic configurationsd ⁿ ,d ^n–1 s, andd ^n–2 s ² for the neutral atom as well as the ground state for the cation and the ground state atom in an external electric field. The primitive sets are 21s15p10d6f4g. Contraction to 6s5p4d3f2g yields results that are virtually identical to those obtained with the corresponding uncontracted basis sets for the atomic properties, which they have been designed to reproduce. Slightly larger deviations are obtained with the 5s4p3d2f1g for the polarizability, while energetic properties still have only small errors. The design objective has been to describe the ionization potential, the polarizability and the valence spectrum as accurately as possible. The result is a set of well-balanced basis sets for molecular calculations, which can be used together with basis sets of the same quality for the first and second row atoms.     

Density matrix averaged atomic natural orbital (ANO) basis sets for correlated molecular wave functions

Summary Generally contracted Basis sets for the atoms H-Kr have been constructed using the atomic natural orbital (ANO) approach, with modifications for allowing symmetry breaking and state averaging. The ANO's are constructed by averaging over the most significant electronic states, the ground state of the cation, the ground state of the anion for some atoms and the homonuclear diatomic molecule at equilibrium distance for some atoms. The contracted basis sets yield excellent results for properties of molecules such as bond-strengths and-lengths, vibrational frequencies, and good results for valence spectra, ionization potentials and electron affinities of the atoms, considering the small size of these sets. The basis sets presented in this article constitute a balanced sequence of basis sets suitable for larger systems, where economy in basis set size is of importance.     

Reliability of atomic natural orbital basis sets in calculations involving pseudopotentials

The performance of Atomic Natural Orbital (ANO) basis sets for calculations involving nonempirical core pseudopotentials has been studied by comparing the results for atomic and molecular nitrogen obtained using contracted ANO basis sets with those obtained using both the primitive set and a segmented one. The primitive set has been optimized at the SCF level for atomic N treated as a five-electron pseudo-atom, and consists of 7s and 7p primitive GTOs supplemented by 2d and 1f GTOs optimized at the CI level. From this primitive set three contracted [3s 3p 2d 1f] sets have been obtained. The first one has been derived from the ANOs of the neutral atom, the second has been obtained from an averaged density matrix and the third one is a segmented set. For the atom, the segmented set gives a zero contraction error at the SCF level as it must be in valence-only calculations. The ANO basis sets show some small contraction error at the SCF level but perform better in CI calculations. However, for the diatomic N₂ molecule the ANO basis sets exhibit a rather large contraction error in the calculated SCF energy. A detailed analysis of the origin of this error is reported, which shows that the conventional strategy used to derive ANO basis sets does not work very well when pseudopotentials are involved.     

Contracted basis sets for electrical property calculations derived from Second-order Møller–Plesset theory atomic natural orbitals

 Using established methods based on correlated atomic natural orbitals (ANOs), sets of contracted polarization functions are derived for use in calculations of atomic and molecular electrical properties (especially electric moments, dipole polarizabilities and related property hypersurfaces). Through test calculations on Ne, Ar, NH₃ and CO₂, these polarization functions are shown to reproduce the accuracy of larger basis sets, to incorporate dynamical electron correlation effects and are economical to use in conjunction with sophisticated electron-correlation treatments. We also show how triple-zeta polarized ANO and double-zeta polarized ANO basis sets are constructed from these contracted polarization functions for use in the calculation of reliable zero-point vibrational averages of electrical properties. Received: 20 December 1999 / Accepted: 15 February 2000 / Published online: 12 May 2000     

New relativistic ANO basis sets for transition metal atoms

New basis sets of the atomic natural orbital (ANO) type have been developed for the first, second, and third row transition metal atoms. The ANOs have been obtained from the average density matrix of the ground and lowest excited states of the atom, the positive and negative 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, electron affinities, and excitation energies for all atoms and polarizabilities for spherically symmetric atoms. These calculations include spin-orbit coupling using a variation-perturbation approach. Computed ionization energies have an accuracy better than 0.2 eV in most cases. The accuracy of computed electron affinities is the same except in cases where the experimental values are smaller than 0.5 eV. Accurate results are obtained for the polarizabilities of atoms with spherical symmetry. Multiplet levels are presented for some of the third row transition metals.     

Large atomic natural orbital basis sets for the first transition row atoms

Large atomic natural orbital (ANO) basis sets are tabulated for the Sc to Cu atoms. The primitive sets are taken from the large sets optimized by Partridge, namely (21s13p8d) for Sc and Ti and (20s12p9d) for V to Cu. These primitive sets are supplemented with threep, oned, sixf, and fourg functions. The ANO sets are derived from configuration interaction density matrices constructed as the average of the lowest states derived from the 3d ⁿ 4s ² and 3d ⁿ⁺¹4s ¹ occupations. For Ni, the¹ S(3d ¹⁰) state is included in the averaging. The choice of basis sets for molecular calculations is discussed.     

CASPT2 study on low‐lying states of HMgO and HOMg

The HMgO and magnesium monohydroxide (HOMg) have been reinvestigated using the complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) and multiconfiguration second‐order perturbation theory (CASPT2) methods with the contracted atomic natural orbital (ANO) basis sets. The geometries of all stationary points along the potential energy surfaces (PESs) were optimized at the CASSCF/ANO levels. The ground and the first excited states of HMgO are predicted to be X²Π and A²Σ⁺ states, respectively. It was predicted that the ground state of HOMg is X²Σ⁺ state. The A²Π state of HOMg has unique imaginary frequency. A bent local minimum M1 was found for the first time along the 1²A″ PES and the A²Π state of HOMg should be the transition state of the isomerization reactions for M1 ? M1. The CASPT2/ANO potential energy curves of isomerization reactions were calculated as a function of HMgO bond angle. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Combination of pseudopotentials and density functionals

Semilocal pseudopotentials have been determined for first–row (Li to Ne), second row (Na to Ar), and third-row atoms (K, Ca). Core–valence correlation is included by adjusting the pseudopotentials to experimental energies of ions with a single valence electron. Correlation within the valence shell is taken into account by using the spin–density functional formalism. The approximations involved in this approach are tested for atomic ionization energies as well as binding energies of monohydrides and alkali diatomics, agreement with experiment is usually satisfactory, but in certain applications density functionals should be already included in the fitting of the local part of the pseudopotential. In addition, 3s/3p and 3s/2p basis sets (for first and second row, respectively), designed for use in connection with our pseudopotentials, are given; it is shown that they yield reasonable results for both SCF and correlation energies.     

Theoretical study on HBC− and HCB− anions using multiconfiguration second‐order perturbation theory

The HBC^? and HCB^? anions have been studied using the complete active space self‐consistent field, CASPT2, and DFT/B3LYP methods with the contracted atomic natural orbital (ANO) and cc‐pVTZ basis sets. The geometries of all stationary points along the potential energy surfaces were optimized at the CASSCF/ANO and B3LYP/cc‐pVTZ levels. The ground state of HBC^? is predicted to be X²? state, which is different from the previously published results. The CASPT2/ANO potential energy curves (PECs) of isomerization reactions were calculated as a function of HBC bond angle and the PECs also show the ²? state is the ground state of HBC^? anion. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Theoretical study on low‐lying states of HAlO+ and HOAl+ cations

Some low‐lying states of HAlO⁺ and HOAl⁺ cations have been studied using the complete‐active‐space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) and multiconfiguration second‐order perturbation theory (CASPT2) methods with the contracted atomic natural orbital (ANO) basis sets. The geometries of all stationary points along the potential energy surfaces were optimized at the CASSCF/ANO and CASPT2/ANO levels. The ground and the first excited states of HAlO⁺ are predicted to be X²Π and A²Σ⁺ states, respectively. It was predicted that the ground state of HOAl⁺ is X²Σ⁺ state. The A²Π state of HOAl⁺ has unique imaginary frequency. A bent local minimum M1 was found along the 1²A″ potential energy surface, and the A²Π state of HOAl⁺ should be the transition state of the isomerization reactions for M1 ? M1. The CASPT2/ANO potential energy curves of isomerization reactions were calculated as a function of HAlO bond angle. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Compact basis sets for LCAO-LSD calculations. Part I: Method and bases for Sc to Zn

A method for preparing compact orbital and auxiliary basis sets for LCAO-LSD calculations has been developed. The method has been applied to construct basis sets for first row transition metal atoms from Sc to Zn for the 3d^n?14s¹ and 3d^n?24s² configurations. The properties of different expansion patterns have been tested in atomic calculations for the chromium atom.     

Atomic SCF loge localized wave functions

We report in this work SCF atomic calculations for Li, Be, B, C, and Ne using a basis set of completely loge-localized functions. For these second row atoms the total volume R³ was partitioned into a spherical loge of radius R and its volume complement. The loge-localized basis functions were constructed as a product of Slater-type orbitals and a cut-off factor. The energy values obtained differ significantly from the Hartree–Fock ones indicating that the delocalization effects—not included in these calculations—are important.     

Theoretical study on HBO+ and HOB+ cations using multiconfiguration second‐order perturbation theory

The HBO⁺ and HOB⁺ cations have been reinvestigated using the CASSCF and CASPT2 methods in conjunction with the contracted atomic natural orbital (ANO) basis sets. The geometries of all stationary points in the potential energy surfaces were optimized at the CASSCF/ANO and CASPT2/ANO levels. The ground and the first excited states of HBO⁺ are predicted to be X²Π and A²Σ⁺ states, respectively. It was predicted that the ground state of HOB⁺ is X²Σ⁺ state. The A²Π state of HOB⁺ has unique imaginary frequency. A bending local minimum M1 was found for the first time along the 1²A′′ potential energy surface and the A²Π state of HOB⁺ should be the transition state of the isomerization reactions for M1? M1. The CASPT2/ANO potential energy curves (PECs) of isomerization reactions were calculated as functions of the HBO bond angle. Many of the CASSCF and CASPT2 calculated results were different from the previously published QCISD(T) results. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Theoretical prediction on HBeN− and HNBe− anions using multiconfiguration second‐order perturbation theory

The HBeN^? and HNBe^? anions have been investigated for the first time using the CASSCF, CASPT2, and DFT/B3LYP methods with the contracted atomic natural orbital (ANO) and cc‐pVTZ basis sets. The geometries of all stationary points along the potential energy surfaces were optimized at the CASSCF/ANO and B3LYP/cc‐pVTZ levels. The ground and the first excited states of HBeN^? are predicted to be X²Π and A²Σ⁺ states, respectively. It was predicted that the ground state of HNBe^? is X²Σ⁺ state. The A²Π state of HNBe^? has unique imaginary frequency. A bend local minimum M1 was found along the 1²A″ potential energy surface and the A²Π state of HNBe^? should be the transition state of the isomerization reactions for M1 ? M1. The CASPT2/ANO potential energy curves of isomerization reactions were calculated as a function of HBeN bond angle. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

Theoretical prediction on HAlS+ and HSAl+ cations using multiconfiguration second‐order perturbation theory

Some low‐lying states of the HAlS⁺ and HSAl⁺ cations have been studied for the first time by large‐scale theoretical calculations using three methods: complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF), complete active second‐order perturbation theory (CASPT2), and density functional theory Becke's three‐parameter hybrid function with the nonlocal correlation of Lee–Yang–Parr (B3LYP) with the contracted atomic natural orbital (ANO‐L) and cc‐pVTZ basis sets. The geometries of all stationary points along the potential energy surfaces (PESs) were optimized at the CASSCF/ANO‐L and B3LYP/cc‐pVTZ levels. The ground and the first excited states of linear HAlS⁺ are predicted to be X²Π and A²Σ⁺ states, respectively. For the linear HSAl⁺ structure, the first excited state is A²Σ⁺. The X²Π state of linear HSAl⁺ is a second‐order saddle point, because it has two imaginary frequencies. Two bent global minima M1 and M2 were found along the 1²A′ and 1²A″ PESs, respectively. The CASPT2/ANO‐L potential energy curves of isomerization reactions were calculated as a function of HAlS bond angle. According to our calculations, the ground‐state HAlS⁺ is linear, whereas the ground‐state HSAl⁺ is bent. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

A comparison of variational and non-variational internally contracted multiconfiguration-reference configuration interaction calculations

Summary The internally contracted multiconfiguration-reference configuration interaction (CMRCI) method and several non-variational variants of this method (averaged coupled pair approximation (ACPF), quasidegenerate variational perturbation theory (QD-VPT), linearized coupled pair many electron theory (LCPMET)) have been employed to compute potential energy functions and other properties for a number of diatomic molecules (F₂, O₂, N₂, CN, CO) using large basis sets and full valence CASSCF reference wavefunctions. In most cases the variational CMRCI wavefunctions yield more accurate spectroscopic constants than any of the employed non-variational methods. Several basis sets are compared for the N₂ molecule. It is found that atomic natural orbital (ANO) contractions led to significant errors in the computedr _e , _e , andD _e values.     

The excited states of pyrazine: A basis set study

Summary Multiconfigurational second order perturbation theory (CASSCF/CASPT2) has been used to investigate the dependence of computed valence excitation energies and transition moments on the basis sets. Pyrazine has been selected as the test molecule. Atomic normal orbital (ANO) type basis sets are used throughout. Contractions of the structure (4s3p1d/2s) are found to be an optimal compromise between the quality and the size of the calculations and are capable of yielding results virtually identical to more extended basis sets.     

Reduced-size polarized basis sets for calculations of molecular electric properties. IV. First-row transition metals

Recent studies of the perturbation-dependent basis sets have indicated the possibility of a significant reduction of the size of the usual CGTO sets without considerable loss of accuracy in calculations of molecular electric properties. The resulting (ZPolX) basis sets have been developed for several atoms of the first and second row of the Periodic Table. The same method of the ZPolX basis set generation is extended for the first-row transition metals and the corresponding contracted ZPolX basis sets of the size [6s5p3d1f] are determined for both nonrelativistic and scalar relativistic calculations. The performance of the ZPolX basis sets is verified in calculations on the first-row transition metal oxides at the level of the ROHF, ROHF/CASPT2, and ROHF/CCSD(T) approximations. Also the study of the dipole polarizability of TiCl₄ confirms the excellent features of these very compact basis sets. The ZPolX basis sets for nonrelativistic and relativistic calculations of molecular electric properties are available on the web page http://www.chem.uni.torun.pl/zchk/basis-sets.html.