Radial dependence of exterior electron distributions of molecular orbitals

A molecular surface is introduced to divide interior electron densities from exterior electron densities (EED). The radial distribution of EED (RADEED) is defined for each molecular orbital as a function of the distance from the molecular surface. Logarithmic plots of RADEED for NH₃ using various basis sets in ab initio MO calculations revealed some important features: (i) the Hartree-Fock limit for the orbital function tail may be suggested and thus qualities of basis sets can be discussed, and (ii) the slope of the curve shows the decay rate of the orbital which can be compared with the curve derived from the theoretical behavior of the long-range asymptotic form involving either the lowest ionization potential or the orbital energy of the highest occupied orbital.Dedicated to Professor J. Koutecký on the occasion of his 65th birthday