Multiple stationary point representations in MC SCF calculations

By using a complete second-order Newton-Raphson multiconfigurational self-consistent field (MC SCF) procedure combined with the Fletcher restricted step constraint algorithm and a modification of the surface walking procedure of Simons et al., an MC SCF energy hypersurface at fixed geometry has been examined in considerably more detail than had been done previously. By calculational example, it is shown that there may exist several MC SCF stationary points which fulfill all four structural criteria we require of a state for being a “good” representation of an exact state. The problem with the existence of several stationary point solutions may be reduced if care is taken in the selection of the MC SCF configuration space. Calculational examples also demonstrate that near-lying stationary points exist which fulfill some, but not all, of these four structural criteria. Hence, stationary points should be obtained with a global MC SCF method which automatically eliminates convergence to as many as possible of these unwanted stationary points. Upon convergence, structural criteria which are not automatically fulfilled should be examined in detail.