Hartree-Fock basis

Head-Gordon M and Pople J A 1988 Optimization of wavefunotion and geometry in the finite basis Hartree-Fock method J. Phys. Chem. 92 3063... 

In Section 3.2.1, we discussed the two main sets of approximations available to us when considering the interaction terms present in the Hamiltonian operator. The first is ab initio theory, which has as its basis Hartree-Fock theory the second is density functional theory, which recasts the basic equations in terms of the electron density rather than the wavefunction directly. 

In this minimal END approximation, the electronic basis functions are centered on the average nuclear positions, which are dynamical variables. In the limit of classical nuclei, these are conventional basis functions used in moleculai electronic structure theoiy, and they follow the dynamically changing nuclear positions. As can be seen from the equations of motion discussed above the evolution of the nuclear positions and momenta is governed by Newton-like equations with Hellman-Feynman forces, while the electronic dynamical variables are complex molecular orbital coefficients that follow equations that look like those of the time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) approximation [24]. The coupling terms in the dynamical metric are the well-known nonadiabatic terms due to the fact that the basis moves with the dynamically changing nuclear positions. 

Ihe one-electron orbitals are commonly called basis functions and often correspond to he atomic orbitals. We will label the basis functions with the Greek letters n, v, A and a. n the case of Equation (2.144) there are K basis functions and we should therefore xpect to derive a total of K molecular orbitals (although not all of these will necessarily 3e occupied by electrons). The smallest number of basis functions for a molecular system vill be that which can just accommodate all the electrons in the molecule. More sophisti- ated calculations use more basis functions than a minimal set. At the Hartree-Fock limit he energy of the system can be reduced no further by the addition of any more basis unctions however, it may be possible to lower the energy below the Hartree-Fock limit ay using a functional form of the wavefunction that is more extensive than the single Slater determinant. 

A Hbasis functions provides K molecular orbitals, but lUJiW of these will not be occupied by smy electrons they are the virtual spin orbitals. If u c were to add an electron to one of these virtual orbitals then this should provide a means of calculating the electron affinity of the system. Electron affinities predicted by Konpman s theorem are always positive when Hartree-Fock calculations are used, because fhe irtucil orbitals always have a positive energy. However, it is observed experimentally that many neutral molecules will accept an electron to form a stable anion and so have negative electron affinities. This can be understood if one realises that electron correlation uDiild be expected to add to the error due to the frozen orbital approximation, rather ihan to counteract it as for ionisation potentials. 

Several functional forms have been investigated for the basis functions Given the vast experience of using Gaussian functions in Hartree-Fock theory it will come as no surprise to learn that such functions have also been employed in density functional theory. However, these are not the only possibility Slater type orbitals are also used, as are numerical... 

The application of density functional theory to isolated, organic molecules is still in relative infancy compared with the use of Hartree-Fock methods. There continues to be a steady stream of publications designed to assess the performance of the various approaches to DFT. As we have discussed there is a plethora of ways in which density functional theory can be implemented with different functional forms for the basis set (Gaussians, Slater type orbitals, or numerical), different expressions for the exchange and correlation contributions within the local density approximation, different expressions for the gradient corrections and different ways to solve the Kohn-Sham equations to achieve self-consistency. This contrasts with the situation for Hartree-Fock calculations, wlrich mostly use one of a series of tried and tested Gaussian basis sets and where there is a substantial body of literature to help choose the most appropriate method for incorporating post-Hartree-Fock methods, should that be desired. 

The second approximation in HF calculations is due to the fact that the wave function must be described by some mathematical function, which is known exactly for only a few one-electron systems. The functions used most often are linear combinations of Gaussian-type orbitals exp(—nr ), abbreviated GTO. The wave function is formed from linear combinations of atomic orbitals or, stated more correctly, from linear combinations of basis functions. Because of this approximation, most HF calculations give a computed energy greater than the Hartree-Fock limit. The exact set of basis functions used is often specified by an abbreviation, such as STO—3G or 6—311++g. Basis sets are discussed further in Chapters 10 and 28. 

It is a well-known fact that the Hartree-Fock model does not describe bond dissociation correctly. For example, the H2 molecule will dissociate to an H+ and an atom rather than two H atoms as the bond length is increased. Other methods will dissociate to the correct products however, the difference in energy between the molecule and its dissociated parts will not be correct. There are several different reasons for these problems size-consistency, size-extensivity, wave function construction, and basis set superposition error. 

Since the first formulation of the MO-LCAO finite basis approach to molecular Hartree-Fock calculations, computer applications of the method have conventionally been implemented as a two-step process. In the first of these steps a (large) number of integrals — mostly two-electron integrals — are calculated and stored on external storage. The second step then consists of the iterative solution of the Roothaan equations, where the integrals from the first step are read once for every iteration. 

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