Independent particle theory with electron correlation

Adventures in DFT by a wavefunction theorist

The attraction density functional theory (DFT) has for electronic structure theory is that it is easier to do computationally than ab initio, correlated wavefunction methods, due to its effective one-particle structure. On the contrary, ab initio theorists insist on the ability to converge to the right answer in appropriate limits, but this requires a treatment of the reduced two-particle density matrix. DFT avoids that by appealing to an "existence" theorem (not a constructive one) that all its effects are subsummed into a DFT functional of the one-particle density. However, the existence of thousands of DFT functionals emphasizes that there is no satisfactory way to systematically improve the Kohn-Sham (KS) version as most changes in parameterization or formulation seldom lead to a new functional that is genuinely better than others. Some researchers in the DFT community try to address this issue by imposing conditions rigorously derived from exact DFT considerations, but to date, no one has shown how this route will ever lead to converged results even for the ground state, much less for all the other electronic states obtained from time-dependent DFT that are critically important for chemistry. On the contrary, coupled-cluster (CC) theory and its equation-of-motion extensions provide rigorous results for both that KS-DFT methods are attempting to emulate. How to use them and their exact formal properties to tie CC theory to an effective one-particle form is the target of this perspective. This route addresses the devil's triangle of KS-DFT problems: the one-particle spectrum, self-interaction, and the integer discontinuity.

Intermediate Hamiltonian Fock-space multireference coupled-cluster method with full triples for calculation of excitation energies

The intermediate Hamiltonian multireference coupled-cluster (CC) method with singles, doubles, and triples within the excited (1,1) sector of Fock space (FS) is implemented and formulated to calculate excitation energies (EEs). Due to the intermediate Hamiltonian formulation, which provides a robust computational scheme for solving the FS-CC equations, coupled to an efficient factorization strategy, relatively large basis sets and model spaces are employed permitting basis set converged comparisons of the calculated vertical EEs, which can be compared to the experimental data for the N(2) and CO molecules. The issue of charge-transfer separability is also addressed.

Ab initio density functional theory applied to quasidegenerate problems

Ab initio density functional theory (DFT), previously applied primarily at the second-order many-body perturbation theory (MBPT) level, is generalized to selected infinite-order effects by using a new coupled-cluster perturbation theory (CCPT). This is accomplished by redefining the unperturbed Hamiltonian in ab initio DFT to correspond to the CCPT2 orbital dependent functional. These methods are applied to the Be-isoelectronic systems as an example of a quasidegenerate system. The CCPT2 variant shows better convergence to the exact quantum Monte Carlo correlation potential for Be than any prior attempt. When using MBPT2, the semicanonical choice of unperturbed Hamiltonian, plays a critical role in determining the quality of the obtained correlation potentials and obtaining convergence, while the usual Kohn-Sham choice invariably diverges. However, without the additional infinite-order effects, introduced by CCPT2, the final potentials and energies are not sufficiently accurate. The issue of the effects of the single excitations on the divergence in ordinary OEP2 is addressed, and it is shown that, whereas their individual values are small, their infinite-order summation is essential to the good convergence of ab initio DFT.

On the performance of local, semilocal, and nonlocal exchange-correlation functionals on transition metal molecules

The lowest singlet-triplet transition (X (1)Sigma+-(3)Sigma+) of AgI has been used to study systematically the performance of local [local density approximation (LDA)], semilocal [generalized gradient approximation (GGA)], and nonlocal (semiempiric hybrid and meta)-type exchange-correlation functionals on a transition metal molecule where dynamic electronic correlation effects are essential. Previous benchmark ab initio calculations showed that the triplet ground state possesses a shallow well in the Franck-Condon region before becoming repulsive at longer internuclear distance [A. Ramirez-Solis, J. Chem. Phys. 118, 104 (2003)]. Several density functional theory (DFT) descriptions are compared with the benchmark complete active space self-consistent-field+averaged coupled pair functional results, using the same relativistic effective core potentials and optimized Gaussian basis sets. A rather unreliable performance of exchange-correlation functionals was found when ascending the various rungs in DFT Jacob's ladder for this complex molecule. While some of the simpler (LDA and GGA) functionals correctly predict the presence of a short-distance maximum for the (3)Sigma+ state, more sophisticated hybrid and meta-functionals lead to totally repulsive or oscillating curves for the ground triplet state. A thorough discussion addressing the local versus nonlocal character of the exchange and correlation effects on the triplet potential curve is presented. The author concludes that any new efforts directed at producing more accurate exchange-correlation functionals must take into account the more complex electronic structure arising in transition metal molecules, whether these efforts follow the dominant pragmatic semiempiric trend or the more philosophically correct nonempiric pathway to develop better exchange-correlation functionals; only then will the Kohn-Sham version of DFT make the necessary improvements to correctly describe the electronic structure of complex transition metal systems.

Correlated complex independent particle potential for calculating electronic resonances

We have formulated and applied an analytic continuation method for the recently formulated correlated independent particle potential [A. Beste and R. J. Bartlett J. Chem. Phys. 120, 8395 (2004)] derived from Fock space multireference coupled cluster theory. The technique developed is an advanced ab initio tool for calculating the properties of resonances in the low-energy electron-molecule collision problem. The proposed method quantitatively describes elastic electron-molecule scattering below the first electronically inelastic threshold. A complex absorbing potential is utilized to define the analytic continuation for the potential. A separate treatment of electron correlation and relaxation effects for the projectile-target system and the analytic continuation using the complex absorbing potential is possible, when an approximated form of the correlated complex independent particle potential is used. The method, which is referred to as complex absorbing potential-based correlated independent particle (CAP-CIP), is tested by application to the well-known (2)Pi(g) shape resonance of e-N(2) and the (2)B(2g) shape resonance of e-C(2)H(4) (ethylene) with highly satisfactory results.

Correlated one-particle method: Numerical results

In a previous paper a correlated one-particle method was formulated, where the effective Hamiltonian was composed of the Fock operator and a correlation potential. The objective was to define a correlated one-particle theory that would give all properties that can be obtained from a one-particle theory. The Fock-space coupled-cluster method was used to construct the infinite-order correlation potential, which yields correct ionization potentials (IP's) and electron affinities (EA's) as the negative of the eigenvalues. The model, however, was largely independent of orbital choice. To exploit the degree of freedom of improving the orbitals, the Brillouin-Brueckner condition is imposed, which leads to an effective Brueckner Hamiltonian. To assess its numerical properties, the effective Brueckner Hamiltonian is approximated through second order in perturbation. Its eigenvalues are the negative of IP's and EA's correct through second order, and its eigenfunctions are second-order Brueckner orbitals. We also give expressions for its energy and density matrix. Different partitioning schemes of the Hamiltonian are used and the intruder state problem is discussed. The results for ionization potentials, electron affinities, dipole moments, energies, and potential curves are given for some sample molecules.