The configuration interaction method,and the triplet-singlet splitting in CH2

A configuration-interaction (CI) method in which the interaction matrix is never constructed has been investigated, following the original suggestion of Roos. Two methods have been used (1) for singlet states, which can be represented by a one determinant configuration of doubly occupied orbitals, CI with all singly and doubly excited configurations, (2) for states for which the restricted self-consistent field approximation is a single determinant, CI with all singly and doubly excited determinants. In case (2), the wavefunction may not be exactly an eigenfunction of S ². The methods were investigated using a double-zeta plus polarisation basis for CH₂. Both methods must give the same result for the lowest singlet ground state. Keeping the bond length fixed at 2.10 and 2.04 bohr respectively the bond angle for the singlet and triplet were found to be 100.8 ° and 132.0 °, with energies ?39.0312 a.u. and ?39.0563 a.u. respectively. These are the lowest variational energies obtained for these systems; the singlet-triplet splitting is thus predicted to be 15.4 kcal/mol.