Explicitly Correlated Electrons in Molecules

Range-separated Brueckner coupled cluster doubles theory

We introduce a range-separation approximation to coupled cluster doubles (CCD) theory that successfully overcomes limitations of regular CCD when applied to the uniform electron gas. We combine the short-range ladder channel with the long-range ring channel in the presence of a Bruckner renormalized one-body interaction and obtain ground-state energies with an accuracy of 0.001 a.u./electron across a wide range of density regimes. Our scheme is particularly useful in the low-density and strongly correlated regimes, where regular CCD has serious drawbacks. Moreover, we cure the infamous overcorrelation of approaches based on ring diagrams (i.e., the particle-hole random phase approximation). Our energies are further shown to have appropriate basis set and thermodynamic limit convergence, and overall this scheme promises energetic properties for realistic periodic and extended systems which existing methods do not possess.

New accurate benchmark energies for large water clusters: DFT is better than expected

In this work, we use MP2 and coupled-cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)] as well as their corresponding explicitly correlated (F12) counterparts to compute the interaction energies of water icosamers. The incremental scheme is used to compute benchmark energies at the CCSD(T)/CBS(45) and CCSD(T)(F12*)/cc-pVQZ-F12 level of theory. The four structures, dodecahedron, edge sharing, face sharing, and fused cubes, are part of the WATER27 test set and therefore, highly accurate interaction energies are required. All methods applied in this work lead to new benchmark energies for these four systems. To obtain these values, we carefully analyze the convergence of the interaction energies with respect to the basis set. Furthermore, we investigate the influence of the basis set superposition error and the core-valence correlation. The interaction energies are: dodecahedron -198.6 kcal/mol, edge sharing -209.7 kcal/mol, face sharing -208.0 kcal/mol, and fused cubes -208.0 kcal/mol. For water clusters, we recommend to use the PW6B95 density functional of Truhlar in combination with Grimme's dispersion correction (D3), as the mean absolute error is 0.9 and the root mean-squared deviation is only 1.4 kcal/mol.

Intermolecular interactions and charge transfer transitions in aromatic hydrocarbon–tetracyanoethylene complexes

ADC(2) calculations accurately describe charge transfer transitions in complexes of the tetracyanoethylene electron acceptor and three distinct aromatic donors.

Is near-"spectroscopic accuracy" possible for heavy atoms and coupled cluster theory? An investigation of the first ionization potentials of the atoms Ga-Kr

Recent developments in ab initio coupled cluster (CC) theory and correlation consistent basis sets have ushered in an era of unprecedented accuracy when studying the spectroscopy and thermodynamics of molecules containing main group elements. These same developments have recently seen application to heavier inorganic or transition metal-containing species. The present work benchmarks conventional single reference coupled cluster theory (up to full configuration interaction for valence electron correlation and coupled cluster with up to full pentuple excitations (CCSDTQP) for core-valence correlation) and explicitly correlated coupled cluster methods [CC with single, double, and perturbative triple substitutions (CCSD(T)-F12)] for the atomic ionization potentials of the six 4p elements (Ga-Kr), a property with experimental error bars no greater than a few cm(-1). When second-order spin orbit coupling effects are included, a composite methodology based on CCSD(T) calculations yielded a mean signed error of just -0.039 kcal mol(-1) and a mean unsigned error of 0.043 kcal mol(-1). Inclusion of post-CCSD(T) correlation corrections reduced both of these values to -0.008 kcal mol(-1) and 0.025 kcal mol(-1), respectively, with the latter corresponding to an average error of just 9 cm(-1). The maximum signed error in the latter scheme was just -0.043 kcal mol(-1) (15 cm(-1)).

Theoretical insights into the nature of halogen bonding in prereactive complexes

Benchmark quality geometries and interaction energies for the prereactive halogen-bonded complexes of dihalogens and ammonia, including hypothetical astatine containing dihalogens, have been produced via explicitly correlated coupled cluster methods. The application of local electron correlation partitioning reveals dispersion, electrostatics and ionic substitutions all contribute significantly to the interaction energy, with a linear relationship between the ionic substitutions and the degree of charge transfer. Potential energy curves for H3 N⋅⋅⋅ClF show that as the relative orientations of the two subunits are manipulated appreciable interactions can be found at considerably angular displaced geometries, signifying lower directionality in halogen bonding than previously supposed.

Explicitly Correlated Methods within the ccCA Methodology

The prediction of energetic properties within "chemical accuracy" (1 kcal mol(-1) from well-established experiment) can be a major challenge in computational quantum chemistry due to the computational requirements (computer time, memory, and disk space) needed to achieve this level of accuracy. Methodologies such as coupled cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations (CCSD(T)) combined with very large basis sets are often required to reach this level of accuracy. Unfortunately, such calculations quickly become cost prohibitive as system size increases. Our group has developed an ab initio composite method, the correlation consistent Composite Approach (ccCA), which enables such accuracy to be possible, on average, but at reduced computational cost as compared with CCSD(T) in combination with a large basis set. While ccCA has proven quite useful, computational bottlenecks still occur. In this study, the means to reduce the computational cost of ccCA without compromising accuracy by utilizing explicitly correlated methods within ccCA have been considered, and an alternative formulation is described.

Spectroscopic and thermochemical properties of the c-C6H7 radical: a high-level theoretical study

The electronic ground state (X(2)B(1)) of the cyclohexadienyl radical (c-C(6)H(7)) has been studied by explicitly correlated coupled cluster theory at the RCCSD(T)-F12x (x = a, b) level, partly in combination with the double-hybrid density functional method B2PLYP. An accurate equilibrium structure has been established and the ground-state rotational constants are predicted to be A(0) = 5347.3 MHz, B(0) = 5249.7 MHz, and C(0) = 2692.5 MHz. The calculated vibrational wavenumbers agree well with the recent p-H(2) matrix IR data [M. Bahou, Y.-J. Wu, and Y.-P. Lee, J. Chem. Phys. 136, 154304 (2012)] and several predictions have been made. A low value of 6.803 ± 0.005 eV is predicted for the adiabatic ionization energy of c-C(6)H(7). Owing to a moderately large change in the equilibrium structure upon ionization, the first band of the photoelectron spectrum is dominated by the adiabatic peak (100%) and only the peaks corresponding to excitation of the two lowest totally symmetric vibrations (ν(12) and ν(11)) by one vibrational quantum have relative intensities of more than 15%. The C(6)H(6)-H dissociation energy is calculated to be D(0) = 85.7 kJ mol(-1), with an estimated error of ~2 kJ mol(-1).