Effective local potentials for excited states

Density functional theory from spherically symmetric densities: Ground and excited states of Coulomb systems

Recently, Theophilou [J. Chem. Phys. 149, 074104 (2018)] proposed a peculiar version of the density functional theory by showing that the set of spherical averages of the density around the nuclei determines uniquely the external potential in atoms, molecules, and solids. Here, this novel theory is extended to individual excited states. The generalization is based on the method developed in the series of papers by Ayers, Levy, and Nagy [Phys. Rev. A 85, 042518 (2012)]. Generalized Hohenberg-Kohn theorems are proved to the set of spherically symmetric densities using constrained search. A universal variational functional for the sum of the kinetic and electron-electron repulsion energies is constructed. The functional is appropriate for the ground state and all bound excited states. Euler equations and Kohn-Sham equations for the set are derived. The Euler equations can be rewritten as Schrödinger-like equations for the square root of the radial densities, and the effective potentials in them can be expressed in terms of wave function expectation values. The Hartree plus exchange-correlation potentials can be given by the difference of the interacting and the non-interacting effective potentials.

Initial Maximum Overlap Method Embedded with Extremely Localized Molecular Orbitals for Core-Ionized States of Large Systems

Despite great advances in X-ray absorption spectroscopy for the investigation of small molecule electronic structure, the application to biosystems of experimental techniques developed within this research field remains a challenge. To partially circumvent the problem, users resort to theoretical methods to interpret or predict the X-ray absorption spectra of large molecules. To accomplish this task, only low-cost computational strategies can be exploited. For this reason, some of them are single Slater determinant wavefunction approaches coupled with multiscale embedding techniques designed to treat large systems of biological interest. Therefore, in this work, we propose to apply the recently developed IMOM/ELMO embedding method to the determination of core-ionized states. The IMOM/ELMO technique resulted from the combination of the single Slater determinant Δself-consistent-field-initial maximum overlap approach (ΔSCF-IMOM) with the QM/ELMO (quantum mechanics/extremely localized molecular orbital) embedding strategy, a method where only the chemically relevant region of the examined system is treated at fully quantum chemical level, while the rest is described through transferred and frozen extremely localized molecular orbitals (ELMOs). The IMOM/ELMO technique was initially validated by computing core-ionization energies for small molecules, and it was afterwards exploited to study larger biosystems. The obtained results are in line with those reported in previous studies that applied alternative ΔSCF approaches. This makes us envisage a possible future application of the proposed method to the interpretation of X-ray absorption spectra of large molecules.

Density Functional Theory of Highly Excited States of Coulomb Systems

The density functional theory proposed earlier for excited states of Coulomb systems is discussed. The localized Hartree–Fock (LHF) and the Krieger, Li, and Iafrate (KLI) methods combined with correlation are generalized for excited states. Illustrative examples include some highly excited states of Li and Na atoms.

Hylleraas' variational method with orthogonality restrictions

In this paper, we suggest a new computational technique for the minimization of Hylleraas' functional with additional orthogonality restrictions imposed on the desired vectors. It is shown how Hylleraas' constrained problem can be reduced to an unconstrained one by minimal computational efforts. The asymptotic projection (AP) method proposed earlier to minimize Rayleigh's quotient subject to some orthogonality restrictions is applied to construct a modified Hylleraas' functional whose solution fulfills the required constraints automatically. Specifically, equivalence between the original problem and the one for the modified Hamilton operator is derived. It is shown that the AP methodology allows additional restrictions to be treated in a unified approach for both Rayleigh's quotient and Hylleraas' functional. Specific features of the method are demonstrated on the electronic parallel polarizability of H₂⁺. Some emphasis is put on the choice of specific distributed basis set adapted for polarizability computation. A comparison with other methods, considered exact or extremely accurate, is also given.

Nonperturbative time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) and time-dependent electron localization function (TDELF) study of the ionization of OCS and CS2 with ultrashort intense laser pulses — Orientational effects

The nonlinear nonperturbative response of OCS and CS2 to ultrashort (few cycles) intense laser pulses was studied numerically by time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) methods to understand molecular ionization as a function of laser–molecule orientation. A time-dependent electron localization function(TDELF) was used to visualize the nonlinear nonperturbative electron transfer occurring during the laser pulse. It was found that, for intensities I > 3.5 × 1014 W/cm2, the inner shell Kohn–Sham (KS) molecular orbitals contribute significantly to the ionization, whereas for the intensity I < 3.5 × 1014 W/cm2, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) shows the dominant response to the field. In general, the ionization rate maxima correspond to the alignment of maximum KS orbital densities with the laser pulse polarization instead of orbital ionization potentials (IP). These findings are corroborated through analysis of the TDELF images, where the ionization occurs from the lone pair or bond regions of the corresponding molecules.