Analysis and Evaluation of Ionization Potentials, Electron Affinities, and Excitation Energies by the Equations of Motion-Green's Function Method

Recent Advances in the Study of Negative-Ion Resonances Using Multiconfigurational Propagator and a Complex Absorbing Potential

The transient resonances are a challenge to bound state quantum mechanics. These states lie in the continuum part of the spectrum of the Hamiltonian. For this, one has to treat a continuum problem due to electron-molecule scattering and the many-electron correlation problem simultaneously. Moreover, the description of a resonance requires a wavefunction that bridges the part that resembles a bound state with another that resembles a continuum state such that the continuity of the wavefunction and its first derivative with respect to the distance between the incoming projectile and the target is maintained. A review of the recent advances in the theoretical investigation of the negative-ion resonances (NIR) is presented. The NIRs are ubiquitous in nature. They result from the scattering of electrons off of an atomic or molecular target. They are important for numerous chemical processes in upper atmosphere, space and even biological systems. A contextual background of the existing theoretical methods as well as the newly-developed multiconfigurational propagator tools based on a complex absorbing potential are discussed.

Stochastic resolution of identity second-order Matsubara Green's function theory

We develop a stochastic resolution of identity representation to the second-order Matsubara Green's function (sRI-GF2) theory. Using a stochastic resolution of the Coulomb integrals, the second order Born self-energy in GF2 is decoupled and reduced to matrix products/contractions, which reduces the computational cost from O(N⁵) to O(N³) (with N being the number of atomic orbitals). The current approach can be viewed as an extension to our previous work on stochastic resolution of identity second order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory [T. Y. Takeshita et al., J. Chem. Theory Comput. 13, 4605 (2017)] and offers an alternative to previous stochastic GF2 formulations [D. Neuhauser et al., J. Chem. Theory Comput. 13, 5396 (2017)]. We show that sRI-GF2 recovers the deterministic GF2 results for small systems, is computationally faster than deterministic GF2 for N > 80, and is a practical approach to describe weak correlations in systems with 10³ electrons and more.

Green's Function Coupled-Cluster Approach: Simulating Photoelectron Spectra for Realistic Molecular Systems

In this paper, we present an efficient implementation for the analytical energy-dependent Green's function coupled-cluster with singles and doubles (GFCCSD) approach with our first practice being computing spectral functions of realistic molecular systems. Because of its algebraic structure, the presented method is highly scalable and is capable of computing spectral function for a given molecular system in any energy region. Several typical examples have been given to demonstrate its capability of computing spectral functions not only in the valence band but also in the core-level energy region. Satellite peaks have been observed in the inner valence band and core-level energy region where a many-body effect becomes significant and the single particle picture of ionization often breaks down. The accuracy test has been carried out by extensively comparing the computed spectral functions by our GFCCSD method with experimental photoelectron spectra as well as the theoretical ionization potentials obtained from other methods. It turns out the GFCCSD method is able to provide a qualitative or semiquantitative level of description of ionization processes in both the core and valence regimes. To significantly improve the GFCCSD results for the main ionic states, a larger basis set can usually be employed, whereas the improvement of the GFCCSD results for the satellite states needs higher-order many-body terms to be included in the GFCC implementation.

A confinement induced spectroscopic study of noble gas atoms using equation of motion architecture: Encapsulation within fullerene's voids

A relativistic study of spectroscopic properties of the endohedral fullerenes Ng@C₆₀^q (where Ng = He, Ne and q=0,±1,±2 are the charges) associated with the C₆₀ molecule has been done using the equation of motion coupled cluster (EOM-CC) methodology. Specific properties estimated are the transition energies, dipole oscillator strengths, and transition probabilities for the low-lying excitations 1s²(¹S₀) → 1snp (¹P₁) (n = 2, 3, 4) for He@C₆₀^q and 1s²2s²2p⁶ (¹S₀) → 1s²2s²2p⁵ns∕nd (¹P₁) (n = 3, 4) for Ne@C₆₀^q, which have been compared with those for the isolated atom to depict the confinement effect of the host molecule on the encapsulated atom. This is accomplished by introducing an effective potential to the atomic Hamiltonian induced by the fullerene moiety and its charge. The EOM-CC results have been compared with those estimated with the random phase approximation (and configuration interaction singles) to understand the effect of electron correlation under such confinement. The systematic and interesting behavior of the properties is highlighted indicating the effect of fullerene cage potential on the redistribution of electron density of the guest atom.

Second-order, two-electron Dyson propagator theory: Comparisons for vertical double ionization potentials

The second-order, two-electron Dyson propagator is derived using superoperator theory with a spin-adapted formulation. To include certain ladder diagrams to all orders, the shifted-denominator (SD2) approximation is made. Formal and computational comparisons with other approximations illustrate the advantages of the SD2 procedure. Vertical double ionization potentials (DIPs) for a set of closed-shell molecules are evaluated with the second-order propagator and the SD2 method. The results of the SD2 approximation are in good agreement with experiment. To systematically examine the quality of the results, we compared SD2 and equation-of-motion, coupled-cluster predictions. The average absolute discrepancy is 0.26 eV for 36 doubly ionized states.

Ab initio electron propagators in molecules with strong electron-phonon interaction: II. Electron Green's function

Ab initio electron propagator methods are developed to study electronic properties of molecular systems with strong electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions. For the calculation of electron Green's functions we apply a canonical small polaron transformation that intrinsically contains strong electron-phonon effects. In the transformed Hamiltonian, the energy levels for the noninteracting particles are shifted down by the relaxation (solvation) energies. The Coulomb integrals are also renormalized by the electron-phonon interaction. For certain values of the electron-phonon coupling constants, the renormalized Coulomb integrals can be negative which implies the attraction between two electrons. Within the small polaron transformation we develop a diagrammatic technique for the calculation of electron Green's function in which the electron-phonon interaction is already included into the multiple phonon correlation functions. Since the decoupling of the phonon correlation functions is impossible, and therefore, a Wick's theorem for such correlation functions is invalid, there is no Dyson equation for the electron Green's function. To find the electron Green's function, we use different approximations. One of them is a link-cluster approximation that includes diagonal transitions for the renormalized zeroth Green's function. In the linked-cluster approach the Dyson equation is derived in the most general case, where the self-energy operator is an arbitrary functional (not only in the Hartree-Fock approximation). It is shown that even a Hartree-Fock electron (hole) is not a particle any longer. It is a quasiparticle with a finite lifetime that depends on energy of particle and hole states in different ways. As a consequence of this, a standard description of a Hartree-Fock approximation in terms of wave functions becomes inappropriate in this problem. To challenge the linked-cluster approximation we develop a different approach: a sequential propagation approximation where scattering events occur only for sequential transitions. A self-consistent Hartree-Fock equation for a four-index Green's function matrix is derived. In conclusion, the proposed schemes can be considered for future method developments for quantum chemical calculations for large molecules with strong nonadiabatic effects, e-e correlated electron transfer reactions, and electron transport in molecular transport junctions.

Ab initioelectron propagators in molecules with strong electron-phonon interaction. I. Phonon averages

Ab initio electron propagators in molecular systems with strong electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions are considered to study molecular electronic properties. This research is important in electron transfer reactions where the electron transition is not considered any longer as a single electron transfer process or in temperature dependences of current-voltage characteristics in molecular wires or aggregates. To calculate electron Green's functions, the authors apply a small polaron canonical transformation that intrinsically contains strong electron-phonon effects. According to this transformation, the excitation energies of the noninteracting Hamiltonian are shifted down by the relaxation (solvation) energy for each state. The electron-electron interaction is also renormalized by the electron-phonon coupling. For some values of the electron-phonon coupling constants, the renormalized Coulomb integrals can be negative resulting in the attraction between two electrons. Within this transformation, they develop a diagrammatic expansion for electron Green's function in which the electron-phonon interaction is included into the multiple phonon correlation functions. The multiple phonon correlation functions are exactly found. It is pointed out that Wick's theorem for such correlation functions is invalid. Consequently, there is no Dyson equation for electron Green's functions. The proposed approach can be considered for future method developments for quantum chemical calculations that include strong nonadiabatic (non-Born-Oppenheimer) effects.

PtF62− dianion and its detachment spectrum: A fully relativistic study

In this work we calculate the photoelectron spectrum of the PtF(6)2- dianion by application of the third-order Dirac-Hartree-Fock one-particle propagator technique. Relativistic effects and electron correlation are hereby treated on a consistent theoretical basis which is mandatory for systems containing heavy elements. A PtF6(2-) gas phase photoelectron spectrum is not yet available and our calculations therefore have predictive character. As it is characteristic for dianionic systems a strong dependence on basis set size and molecular geometry is observed. In contrast to the already calculated PtCl(6)2- photoelectron spectrum no valence orbital inversion due to strong interplay of spin-orbit coupling and electron correlation is observed. Furthermore an unusually strong spin-orbit splitting was found for the sigma-type subvalence 1t1u molecular spinor despite its very small platinum p population. The double ionization threshold is strongly lowered by relativistic effects now enabling an interatomic Coulombic decay process after ionization from the sigma-bonding orbitals. The results stress the importance of spin-orbit coupling for the understanding of the spectral structure which cannot be reproduced by a scalar-relativistic treatment only.

Ab initioelectron propagator theory of molecular wires. II. Multiorbital terminal description

Correlated, ab initio electron propagator methodology may be applied to the calculation of electrical current through a molecular wire. A new theoretical formalism is developed for the calculation of retarded and advanced Green functions in terms of the electron propagator matrix for a bridge molecule. The calculation of the current requires integration in a complex half-plane for a trace that involves terminal and Green function matrices that may have any rank. Because the latter arrays have poles represented by matrices, an alternative expression is developed in terms of ordinary poles which are (n-1)-fold degenerate or nondegenerate. For an arbitrary number of terminal orbitals, the analytical expression for the current is given in terms of pole strengths, poles, and terminal matrix elements of the electron propagator, i.e., the parameters that are found in the output of numerical calculations.

Ab initioelectron propagator theory of molecular wires: I. Formalism

Ab initio electron propagator methodology may be applied to the calculation of electrical current through a molecular wire. A new theoretical approach is developed for the calculation of the retarded and advanced Green functions in terms of the electron propagator matrix for the bridge molecule. The calculation of the current requires integration in a complex half plane for a trace that involves terminal and Green's-function matrices. Because the Green's-function matrices have complex poles represented by matrices, a special scheme is developed to express these "matrix poles" in terms of ordinary poles. An expression for the current is derived for a terminal matrix of arbitrary rank. For a single terminal orbital, the analytical expression for the current is given in terms of pole strengths, poles, and terminal matrix elements of the electron propagator. It is shown that Dyson orbitals with high pole strengths and overlaps with terminal orbitals are most responsible for the conduction of electrical current.

Molecular ionization energies and ground- and ionic-state properties using a non-Dyson electron propagator approach

An earlier proposed propagator method for the treatment of molecular ionization is tested in first applications. The method referred to as the non-Dyson third-order algebraic-diagrammatic construction [nD-ADC(3)] approximation for the electron propagator represents a computationally promising alternative to the existing Dyson ADC(3) method. The advantage of the nD-ADC(3) scheme is that the (N+/-1)-electronic parts of the one-particle Green's function are decoupled from each other and the corresponding equations can be solved separately. For a test of the method the nD-ADC(3) results for the vertical ionization transitions in C(2)H(4), CO, CS, F(2), H(2)CO, H(2)O, HF, N(2), and Ne are compared with available experimental and theoretical data including results of full configuration interaction (FCI) and coupled cluster computations. The mean error of the nD-ADC(3) ionization energies relative to the experimental and FCI results is about 0.2 eV. The nD-ADC(3) method, scaling as n(5) with the number of orbitals, requires the solution of a relatively simple Hermitian eigenvalue problem. The method renders access to ground-state properties such as dipole moments. Moreover, also one-electron properties of (N+/-1) electron states can now be studied as a consequence of a specific intermediate-state representation (ISR) formulation of the nD-ADC approach. Corresponding second-order ISR equations are presented.

Effect of relativity on the ionization spectra of the xenon fluorides XeFn (n=2, 4, 6)

Noble gas compounds exhibit special chemical bonding situations and have been investigated by various spectroscopic and theoretical techniques. In this work we calculate the ionization spectra of the xenon fluorides (XeF2,XeF4, and XeF6) in the valence and subvalence (down to Xe 4d) areas by application of the recently developed Dirac-Hartree-Fock one-particle propagator technique. In this technique, the relativistic (four-component) and electron correlation effects are computed simultaneously. The xenon compounds show considerable spin-orbit splitting strongly influencing the photoelectron spectrum not reproducible in prior calculations. Comparison to one-component methods is made and the occurring satellite structures are interpreted. The satellite structures can be attributed either to the breakdown of the one-particle picture or to a reflection of intra-atomic and interatomic Auger decay processes within the molecule.

Remarkable interplay of electron correlation and relativity in the photodetachment spectrum of PtCl62−

In this work we calculate the photoelectron spectrum of the PtCl(6) (2-) dianion by application of the recently developed third-order Dirac-Hartree-Fock implementation of the one-particle propagator technique allowing for a consistent treatment of spin-orbit and scalar relativistic effects together with electron correlation. For PtCl(6) (2-) a gas phase photoelectron spectrum is available showing clearly discernible structures not reproducible by a nonrelativistic or purely scalar-relativistic computation. A population analysis of the valence orbitals allows for an assignment of the photoelectron peaks and reveals the strong influence of relativity in combination with electron correlation.

The one-particle Green’s function method in the Dirac–Hartree–Fock framework. II. Third-order valence ionization energies of the noble gases, CO and ICN

In this paper we present the third-order extension of the four-component one-particle propagator method in the non-Dyson version of the algebraic diagrammatic construction (ADC) for the calculation of valence ionization energies. Relativistic and electron correlation effects are incorporated consistently by starting from the Dirac-Hamiltonian. The ADC equations derived from the Feynman diagrams can hereby be used in their spin-orbital form and need not be transformed to the spin-free version as required for a nonrelativistic treatment. For the calculation of the constant self-energy contribution the Dyson expansion method was implemented being superior to a perturbational treatment of sigma(infinity). The Dirac-Hartree-Fock- (DHF-) ADC(3) was applied to the calculation of valence photoionization spectra of the noble gas atoms, carbon monoxide and ICN now also reproducing spin-orbit features in the spectrum. Comparison with DHF-ADC(2), nonrelativistic ADC(3), and experimental data was made in order to demonstrate the characteristics and performance of the method.

The one-particle Green’s function method in the Dirac–Hartree–Fock framework. I. Second-order valence ionization energies of Ne through Xe

The one-particle Green's function theory in its various implementations is a well-established many-body approach for the calculation of electron ionization and attachment energies in atoms and molecules. In order to describe not only scalar-relativistic effects but also spin-orbit splitting on an equal footing an embedding of this theory in the four-component framework was carried out and fully relativistic ionization energies of the noble gas atoms Ne through Xe were calculated using the second-order algebraic diagrammatic construction [ADC2] approximation scheme. Comparison with nonrelativistic ADC2 results and experimental data was made.