The convergence of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method in quantum chemistry

Two sufficient criteria for the convergence of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method (RRM) with respect to the eigenvalues (E-convergence) of non-relativistic electronic Hamiltonians of molecules are discussed and compared. Moreover, a necessary and sufficient criterion is given. By example (Sect. 9) it is shown that the L²-completeness of the basis is not sufficient to guarantee E-convergence. The convergence of the wave functions in different norms (-convergence) is also investigated. In particular, sufficient conditions for the one-particle basis functions (orbitals) are given, such that a CI calculation in this basis is both E- and -convergent.