Problems in electron propagator calculations of the correlation energy

Approximations to the one-electron propagator, G(ω), are discussed asa basis for correlation energy calculations. The random-phase approximation (RPA) and second-order perturbation theory estimates of the self-energy are used to determine G(ω). Correlation energy expressions, resulting from contour integration, are compared with the standard perturbation expansion. We suggest that some of the simpler approximations to the electron propagator may be unsuited to calculations of the correlation energy.