A hybrid technique of orthonormality constrained orbital optimization in SCF calculations

A recently proposed orthonormality constrained orbital optimization technique is operationally modified further by coupling it to a gradient biased method, namely the steepest descent procedure of McWeeny. The hybrid technique developed in this way is shown to have better convergence properties in closed and unrestricted open-shell calculations. The technique can be adapted to MCSCF procedures as well. The important role played by "orbital symmetries" in the operation of the method is analysed. Similarities and differences of the present method with the orthogonal gradient method are pointed out. Possible avenues of circumventing convergence difficulty that one may encounter in pathological cases, particularly in ab initio calculations involving extended basis set, are suggested.     

On a new partitioning of the Hamiltonian in many-body calculation of pair-correlation energies in closed-shell systems

We introduce here a new partitioning of the Hamiltonian in calculating pair-correlation energies using many-body perturbation theory, by which we are able to eliminate the off-diagonal particle–hole (p–h) ladders exactly to all orders in the perturbation expansion. In this formulation, the particle states turn out to be different for each distinct pair of hole states in the correlation energy calculation. We have also included the contributions of the diagonal particle–particle (p–p) and hole–hole ladders exactly to all orders. The effect of the off-diagonal p–p ladders has been estimated for each pair by computing the third-, foruth- and fifth-order energies. For highly symmetric systems the present partitioning yields in general symmetry-broken orbitals. Here one may use an average kind of partitioning for all the partners of the degenerate sets, which restores the symmetry and at the same time ensures cancellation of the p–h ladders exactly at the lowest order and approximately at the higher orders. Results are presented for a selection of 6π-electron conjugated systems. The correlation energy for each pair is in excellent agreement with that obtained from a partial CI calculation involving all double excitations from this pair. The advantages of implementing the present scheme in larger systems has been discussed.     

Unusual features of micellar diffusion

Diffusion coefficients of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide in aqueous solutions have been determined at 25, 95 and 135 °C using the Taylor dispersion technique. The diffusion coefficient exhibits a minimum at a surfactant concentration above the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The results are interpreted in terms of electrostatic coupling and rapid exchange between micelle, surfactant monomer and counterions.     

Thermodynamic stability of CaThF6(cr) by transpiration and e.m.f. techniques

In the present paper, we report the standard molar Gibbs energy of formation for CaThF₆ measured by gas equilibration and e.m.f. methods. The HF(g) vapour pressure over the equilibrium reaction: \({\text{CaThF}}_{6} \left( {\text{cr}} \right) + 2 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}\left( {\text{g}} \right) = {\text{CaF}}_{2} \left( {\text{cr}} \right) + {\text{ThO}}_{2} \left( {\text{cr}} \right) + 4{\text{HF}}\left( {\text{g}} \right)\) has been measured using transpiration technique. The above reaction mechanism has been established employing TG and XRD techniques. A fluoride e.m.f. cell: (−)Pt, CaF₂(cr) + ThOF₂(cr) + CaThF₆(cr) |CaF₂(cr)| NiO(cr) + NiF₂(cr), Pt(+) has been constructed to measure Gibbs energy of formation of CaThF₆ (cr) using CaF₂ (cr) as a solid electrolyte. The isobaric heat capacity \({\text{Cp}}_{\text{m}}^{{\circ }} \left( T \right)\) of the compound has been measured using differential scanning calorimetric technique. Based on the experimental results, thermodynamic functions for CaThF₆ have been generated.

     

Application of a spin-adapted coupled-cluster based linear response theory: Direct calculation of π -π* singlet and triplet excitation energies of conjugated systems

A procedure is tested for directly calculating exciation energies for spin-conserving and spin-forbidden transitions using a spin-adapted coupled-cluster based linear response theory. The excited states are generated from the ground state through an excitation operator S, a combination of various nh—np excitations of spin-rank zero and one for singlet and triplet excitations.     

Electron affinity of exotic systems under Debye plasma

Electron affinity of plasma embedded muonium (μ⁺e^?) and pionium (π⁺e^?) has been estimated using a general three‐body formalism within variational framework. Electron correlation is taken care of using extended Hylleraas basis sets. The stability of the three‐body systems have been studied under the Debye screening model of the plasma, which changes the Coulombic potential to the screened Coulomb one. The electron affinity of the muonium and pionium is maximum for free systems, and it decreases gradually toward zero with increase of the plasma strength, which tends to push the three‐body system toward gradual instability. The electron correlation contribution to the affinity has been analyzed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Synthesis,crystal structure,and magnetic properties of an alkoxo-hydroxo-bridged octanuclear copper(II) complex showing chemically significant hydrogen-bonding interactions involving a metallamacrocyclic core

A novel 16-member metallamacrocyclic octanuclear copper(II) complex of formulation [Cu8L4(OH)4] (1) has been prepared from a reaction of [Cu2L(O2CMe)] and NaOH in methanol, where L is a pentadentate trianionic Schiff base ligand N,N'-(2-hydroxypropane-1,3-diyl)bis(salicylaldimine). The complex has been characterized by analytical, structural, and spectral methods. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with the following unit cell dimensions: a = 30.365(3) A; b = 14.320(2) A; c = 19.019(2) A; beta = 125.33(2) degrees; V = 6746.7(13) A3; Z = 4. A total of 4589 unique data with l > 2 sigma (l) were used to refine the structure to R1(F0) = 0.0525 and wR2 = 0.1156. The structure consists of four binuclear [Cu2L]+ units linked covalently by four hydroxide ligands to form an octanuclear core which is stabilized by strong hydrogen-bonding interactions involving the hydroxide ligands. Each binuclear unit has a pentadentate ligand L showing N2O3 coordination with an endogenous alkoxide bridging atom. The magnetic susceptibility data of 1, obtained in the temperature range 14-306 K, show the presence of antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between adjacent spin-1/2 Cu(II) ions. The mu eff values are 1.54 and 0.26 microB (per copper) at 295 and 15 K, respectively. The magnetic data have been theoretically fitted using a Heisenberg spin-1/2 Hamiltonian with nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic interactions. The spin coupling in the metallamacrocyclic ring has been modeled using four different coupling constants (J) on the basis of the structural parameters of the octanuclear core. The coupling constants obtained are J1 = -318.8, J2 = -293.3, J3 = -111.6, and J4 = -63.8 cm-1. The theoretical modeling of the susceptibility data gives a higher magnitude of the antiferromagnetic interaction within the binuclear [Cu2L]+ unit compared to those involving adjacent dimeric units.