One-electron properties of molecules calculated using second-order multireference perturbation theory

A new form of second-order multireference perturbation theory coupled with finite-field perturbation theory is applied to evaluate some one-electron molecular properties. Several possible definitions of the zeroth-order Hamiltonian are considered and results tested against bench-mark full CI calculations. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Perturbative calculation of intermolecular interactions in orthogonalized or biorthogonal basis sets

Two versions of a many-body perturbation theory for the computation of molecular interaction energies are investigated. The methods are based on the partitioning of the second-quantized form of the dimer Hamiltonian written either in the orthogonalized basis of the monomer MOs, or, alternatively, in the original non-orthogonal dimer basis set handling the overlap by the biorthogonal formalism. The zeroth-order Hamiltonian H ⁰ is the sum of effective monomer Fockians and the zeroth-order wave functions are exact eigenfunctions of H ⁰. Full antisymmetry is ensured by the second-quantized formalism. Basis set superposition error is accounted for by the counterpoise correction recipe. Results for He₂, (H₂)₂ and (H₂O)₂ indicate the reliability of the biorthogonal technique.     

On the applicability of multireference second-order perturbation theory to study weak magnetic coupling in molecular complexes

The performance of multiconfigurational second-order perturbation techniques is established for the calculation of small magnetic couplings in heterobinuclear complexes. Whereas CASPT2 gives satisfactory results for relatively strong magnetic couplings, the method shows important deviations from the expected Heisenberg spectrum for couplings smaller than 15-20 cm(-1). The standard choice of the zeroth-order CASPT2 Hamiltonian is compared to alternative definitions published in the literature and the stability of the results is tested against increasing level shifts. Furthermore, we compare CASPT2 with an alternative implementation of multiconfigurational perturbation theory, namely NEVPT2 and with variational calculations based on the difference dedicated CI technique.     

Different forms of perturbation theory for the calculation of the correlation energy

Different forms of perturbation theory for the calculation of correlation energy in both closed-and open-shell systems are discussed. For closed-shell systems, Epstein–Nesbet perturbation theory is compared with Møller–Plesset (MP ) perturbation theory based on canonical Hartree–Fock orbitals and with MP theory based on internally consistent SCF orbitals. The traditional MP theory gives superior results despite its use of an inferior zeroth-order Hamiltonian. This behavior is rationalized in terms of the larger denominators present in the traditional MP theory. These conclusions are used to support the restricted open-shell perturbation methods proposed recently by Murray and Davidson, and these new methods are compared with spin-restricted Epstein–Nesbet theory and the unrestricted MP (UMP ) approach. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A perturbation-based super-CI approach for the orbital optimization of a CASSCF wave function

A perturbation theory-based algorithm for the iterative orbital update in complete active space self-consistent-field (CASSCF) calculations is presented. Following Angeli et al. (J. Chem. Phys. 2002, 117, 10525), the first-order contribution of singly excited configurations to the CASSCF wave function is evaluated using the Dyall Hamiltonian for the determination of a zeroth-order Hamiltonian. These authors employ an iterative diagonalization of the first-order density matrix including the first-order correction arising from single excitations, whereas the present approach uses the single-excitation amplitudes directly for the construction of the exponential of an anti-Hermitian matrix resulting in a unitary matrix which can be used for the orbital update. At convergence, the single-excitation amplitudes vanish as a consequence of the generalized Brillouin's theorem. It is shown that this approach in combination with direct inversion of the iterative subspace (DIIS) leads to very rapid convergence of the CASSCF iteration procedure. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Perturbation energy expansions based on two-component relativistic Hamiltonians

The approximate elimination of the small-component approach provides ansätze for the relativistic wave function. The assumed form of the small component of the wave function in combination with the Dirac equation define transformed but exact Dirac equations. The present derivation yields a family of two-component relativistic Hamiltonians which can be used as zeroth-order approximation to the Dirac equation. The operator difference between the Dirac and the two-component relativistic Hamiltonians can be used as a perturbation operator. The first-order perturbation energy corrections have been obtained from a direct perturbation theory scheme based on these two-component relativistic Hamiltonians. At the two-component relativistic level, the errors of the relativistic correction to the energies are proportional to ⁴ Z ⁴, whereas for the relativistic energy corrections including the first-order perturbation theory contributions, the errors are of the order of ⁶ Z ⁶–⁸ Z ⁸ depending on the zeroth-order Hamiltonian.Contribution to the Björn Roos Honorary Issue     

Perturbation theoretical investigation of electron correlation effects in infinite metallic and semiconducting polymers

Møller–Plesset-type perturbation theory is applied to calculate electron correlation effects in infinite, periodic, metallic, and semiconducting polymers. Different possible choices of the zeroth-order Hamiltonian (symmetry adapted Hartree–Fock, spin-, and charge-density waves), the influence of the size of the atomic basis sets, lattice and conduction band sums are investigated. In the case of semiconducting systems a very efficient version of the method using optimally localized Wannier functions has been worked out. Applications include model calculations for infinite atomic hydrogen chains, the investigation of the role of correlation effects in the bond alternation and metal-insulator phase transition in polyene, different one-and many-particle effects contributing to the single-particle gap in polyene, and the calculation of correlated quasiparticle band structures using the electronic polaron model.     

Optimal diabatic bases via thermodynamic bounds

Describing kinetic processes within a perturbation theory approach such as Fermi's golden rule requires an understanding of the initial and final states of the system. A number of different methods have been proposed for obtaining these diabatic-like states, but a robust criterion for evaluating their accuracy has not been established. Here, we approach the problem of determining the most appropriate set of diabatic states for use in incoherent rate expressions. We develop a method that rotates an initial set of diabats into an optimized set beginning with a zeroth-order diabatic Hamiltonian and choosing the rotation that minimizes the effect of non-diabatic terms on the thermodynamic free energy. The Gibbs-Bogoliubov (GB) bound on the Helmholtz free energy is thus used as the diabatic criterion. We first derive the GB free energy for a two site system and then find an expression general for any electronic system Hamiltonian. Efficient numerical methods are used to perform the minimization subject to orthogonality constraints, and we examine the resulting diabats for system Hamiltonians in various parameter regimes. The transition from localized to delocalized states is clearly seen in these calculations, and some interesting features are discussed.     

An infinite-order two-component relativistic Hamiltonian by a simple one-step transformation

The authors report the implementation of a simple one-step method for obtaining an infinite-order two-component (IOTC) relativistic Hamiltonian using matrix algebra. They apply the IOTC Hamiltonian to calculations of excitation and ionization energies as well as electric and magnetic properties of the radon atom. The results are compared to corresponding calculations using identical basis sets and based on the four-component Dirac-Coulomb Hamiltonian as well as Douglas-Kroll-Hess and zeroth-order regular approximation Hamiltonians, all implemented in the DIRAC program package, thus allowing a comprehensive comparison of relativistic Hamiltonians within the finite basis approximation.     

Second-order exchange-induction energy of intermolecular interactions from coupled cluster density matrices and their cumulants

A new formulation of the second-order exchange-induction energy of symmetry-adapted perturbation theory is presented. In the proposed formalism the exchange-induction energy is expressed through one- and two-particle reduced density matrices of monomers, which are of zeroth and first order with respect to the effective electrostatic potential of another monomer. The resulting expression is further modified by using the partition of two-particle density matrices into the antisymmetrized product of one-particle density matrices and the remaining cumulant part. The proposed formalism has been applied to the case of closed-shell monomers and for density matrices obtained from the expectation-value expression with coupled cluster singles and doubles wave functions. The performance of the new approach has been demonstrated on several benchmark van der Waals systems, including dimers of argon, water, and ethyne.     

A local approach to delocalized electronic systems: semilocal evaluation of the cohesive energies of tight-binding Hamiltonians

Starting from strongly localized N-electron functions built from either pure atomic orbitals or fully localized bond molecular orbitals, it is possible to evaluate the ground state energy of a periodic lattice ruled by a tight-binding Hamiltonian without explicitly introducing the monoelectronic crystal orbitals. The method consists of a self-consistent perturbation of the zeroth-order wave function which incorporates high order effects and offers reasonable convergence properties. Along this framework, a single variable per bond type is introduced, namely the amplitude of the charge transfer. The method leads to a set of coupled equations which can be numerically solved, if not analytically. Short-range delocalization effects under periodic conditions are explicitly taken into account and relatively accurate cohesive energies are estimated for regular homoatomic and heteroatomic one-dimensional chains as well as for honeycomb lattices. In addition, good agreement with experiment for the distortion amplitude in polyacetylene is obtained. This exploratory tool may be easily extended to more sophisticated Hamiltonians, for which the solutions are not accessible. Since our approach only introduces short-range delocalization effects, its performance questions the importance of the specifically collective delocalization effects.     

A gauge-independent zeroth-order regular approximation to the exact relativistic Hamiltonian--formulation and applications

A simple modification of the zeroth-order regular approximation (ZORA) in relativistic theory is suggested to suppress its erroneous gauge dependence to a high level of approximation. The method, coined gauge-independent ZORA (ZORA-GI), can be easily installed in any existing nonrelativistic quantum chemical package by programming simple one-electron matrix elements for the quasirelativistic Hamiltonian. Results of benchmark calculations obtained with ZORA-GI at the Hartree-Fock (HF) and second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) level for dihalogens X(2) (X=F,Cl,Br,I,At) are in good agreement with the results of four-component relativistic calculations (HF level) and experimental data (MP2 level). ZORA-GI calculations based on MP2 or coupled-cluster theory with single and double perturbations and a perturbative inclusion of triple excitations [CCSD(T)] lead to accurate atomization energies and molecular geometries for the tetroxides of group VIII elements. With ZORA-GI/CCSD(T), an improved estimate for the atomization energy of hassium (Z=108) tetroxide is obtained.     

Time-dependent quasirelativistic density-functional theory based on the zeroth-order regular approximation

A time-dependent quasirelativistic density-functional theory for excitation energies of systems containing heavy elements is developed, which is based on the zeroth-order regular approximation (ZORA) for the relativistic Hamiltonian and a noncollinear form for the adiabatic exchange-correlation kernel. To avoid the gauge dependence of the ZORA Hamiltonian a model atomic potential, instead of the full molecular potential, is used to construct the ZORA kinetic operator in ground-state calculations. As such, the ZORA kinetic operator no longer responds to changes in the density in response calculations. In addition, it is shown that, for closed-shell ground states, time-reversal symmetry can be employed to simplify the eigenvalue equation into an approximate form that is similar to that of time-dependent nonrelativistic density-functional theory. This is achieved by invoking an independent-particle approximation for the induced density matrix. The resulting theory is applied to investigate the global potential-energy curves of low-lying LambdaS- and omega omega-coupled electronic states of the AuH molecule. The derived spectroscopic parameters, including the adiabatic and vertical excitation energies, equilibrium bond lengths, harmonic and anharmonic vibrational constants, fundamental frequencies, and dissociation energies, are in good agreement with those of time-dependent four-component relativistic density-functional theory and ab initio multireference second-order perturbation theory. Nonetheless, this two-component relativistic version of time-dependent density-functional theory is only moderately advantageous over the four-component one as far as computational efforts are concerned.     

Global analysis of composite particles

The theory of vibrations of a composite particle when vibrational amplitudes are not constrained to be small according to the Eckart conditions is developed using the methods of differential topology. A global classical Hamiltonian appropriate for this system is given, and for the case of the molecular vibration–rotation problem, it is transformed into a global quantum Hamiltonian operator. It is shown that the zeroth-order term in the global Hamiltonian operator is identical to the Wilson–Howard Hamiltonian; higher-order terms are shown to give successively better approximations to the large amplitude problem. Generalized Eckart conditions are derived for the global classical Hamiltonian; the quantum equivalent of these conditions along with the quantum equivalent of the Eckart conditions are given. The spectrum of the global Hamiltonian operator is discussed and it is shown that the calculation of the vibration–rotation energy states of the system reduces to the same straight-forward procedure, the solution of a secular determinant, as was carried out for the Wilson–Howard Hamiltonian at a later time by Nielsen.     

Reduced hamiltonian orbitals. III. Unitarily invariant decomposition of hermitian operators

A decomposition of an N-particle operator as a sum of N + 1 components is defined such that, in the case of a model system employing a finite one-particle basis set, the decomposition is invariant under unitary transformations of the basis set. Applied to a two-particle Hamiltonian, this decomposition gives rise to the distinction between the independent-particle energy and the coupling energy defined in previous papers. Applied to the reduced density operator for a quantum state, the decomposition corresponds to partitioning the density into irreducible components. This partitioning is illustrated by graphs of electron density for the water molecule.     

Perturbative correction for the basis set incompleteness error of complete-active-space self-consistent field

To reduce the basis set incompleteness of the complete-active-space self-consistent field (CASSCF) wave function and energy we develop a second-order perturbation correction due to single excitations to complete set of unoccupied states. Other than the one- and two-electron integrals, only one- and two-particle reduced density matrices are required to compute the correction, denoted as [2](S). Benchmark calculations on prototypical ground-state bond-breaking problems show that only the aug-cc-pVXZ basis is needed with the [2](S) correction to match the accuracy of CASSCF energies of the aug-cc-pV(X+1)Z quality.     

Zeroth-order exchange energy as a criterion for optimized atomic basis sets in interatomic force calculations. Application to He2

A suggestion is made for using the zeroth-order exchange term, at the one-exchange level, in the perturbation development of the interaction energy as a criterion for optimizing the atomic basis sets in interatomic force calculations. The approach is illustrated for the case of two helium atoms.     

Intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution as state space diffusion: classical-quantum correspondence

We study the intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) dynamics of an effective spectroscopic Hamiltonian describing the four coupled high frequency modes of CDBrClF. The IVR dynamics ensuing from nearly isoenergetic zeroth-order states, an edge (overtone) and an interior (combination) state, is studied from a state space diffusion perspective. A wavelet based time-frequency analysis reveals an inhomogeneous phase space due to the trapping of classical trajectories. Consequently the interior state has a smaller effective IVR dimension as compared to the edge state.