Time-dependent density-functional theory with a self-interaction correction

How well do self-interaction corrections repair the overestimation of static polarizabilities in density functional calculations?

We examine the effect of removing self-interaction error (SIE) on the calculation of molecular polarizabilities in the local spin density (LSDA) and generalized gradient approximations (GGA). To this end, we utilize a database of 132 molecules taken from a recent benchmark study [Hait and Head-Gordon, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2018, 20, 19800] to assess the influence of SIE on polarizabilities by comparing results with accurate reference data. Our results confirm that the general overestimation of molecular polarizabilities by these density functional approximations can be attributed to SIE. However, removing SIE using the Perdew-Zunger self-interaction-correction (PZ-SIC) method, implemented using the Fermi-Löwdin Orbital SIC approach, leads to an underestimation of molecular polarizabilities, showing that PZ-SIC overcorrects when combined with LSDA or GGA. Application of a recently proposed locally scaled SIC [Zope, et al., J. Chem. Phys., 2019, 151, 214108] is found to provide more accurate polarizabilities. We attribute this to the ability of the local scaling scheme to selectively correct for SIE in the regions of space where the correction is needed most.

Local self-interaction correction method with a simple scaling factor

The local self-interaction correction method with a simple scaling factor performs better than the Perdew-Zunger self-interaction correction method and also provides a good description of the binding energies of weakly bonded water clusters. 

Kohn-Sham self-interaction correction in real time

We present a solution scheme for the time-dependent Kohn-Sham self-interaction correction. Based on the generalized optimized effective potential approach, the multiplicative Kohn-Sham potential is constructed in real time and real space for the self-interaction corrected local density approximation. Excitations of different character, including charge-transfer excitations that had been regarded as prime examples for the failure of standard time-dependent density functionals, are described correctly by this approach. We analyze the time-dependent exchange-correlation potential and density, revealing features that are decisive for the correct description of the response.

Time-dependent density-functional theory simulation for electron-ion dynamics in molecules under intense laser pulses

We have developed a simulation method to describe three-dimensional dynamics of electrons and ions in a molecule based on the time-dependent density-functional theory. We solve the time-dependent Kohn-Sham equation for electrons employing the real-space and real-time method, while the ion dynamics are described in classical mechanics by the Ehrenfest method. For an efficient calculation in massively parallel computers, the code is parallelized dividing the spatial grid points. We apply the method to the Coulomb explosion of the H(2)S molecule under an intense and ultrashort laser pulse and investigate the mechanism of the process.