Basis sets population analysis

Ldwdin population analysis avoids the problem of negative populations or populations greater than 2. Some quantum chemists prefer the Ldwdin approach to that of Mulliken as the charges are often closer to chemically intuitive values and are less sensitive to basis set. 

The Lowdin population analysis scheme was created to circumvent some of the unreasonable orbital populations predicted by the Mulliken scheme, which it does. It is different in that the atomic orbitals are first transformed into an orthogonal set, and the molecular orbital coefficients are transformed to give the representation of the wave function in this new basis. This is less often used since it requires more computational work to complete the orthogonalization and has been incorporated into fewer software packages. The results are still basis-set-dependent. 

This results in a population analysis scheme that is less basis set dependent than the Mulliken scheme. Flowever, basis set effects are still readily apparent. This is also a popular technique because it is available in many software packages and researchers find it convenient to use a method that classifies the type of orbital. 

A much less basis set dependent method is to analyze the total electron density. This is called the atoms in molecules (AIM) method. It is designed to examine the small effects due to bonding in the primarily featureless electron density. This is done by examining the gradient and Laplacian of electron density. AIM analysis incorporates a number of graphic analysis techniques as well as population analysis. The population analysis will be discussed here and the graphic techniques in the next chapter. 

The ah initio module can run HF, MP2 (single point), and CIS calculations. A number of common basis sets are included. Some results, such as population analysis, are only written to the log file. One test calculation failed to achieve SCF convergence, but no messages indicating that fact were given. Thus, it is advisable to examine the iteration energies in the log file. 

Optimize the structure of acetyl radical using the 6-31G(d) basis set at the HF, MP2, B3LYP and QCISD levels of theory. We chose to perform an Opt Freq calculation at the Flartree-Fock level in order to produce initial force constants for the later optimizations (retrieved from the checkpoint file via OptsReadFC). Compare the predicted spin polarizations (listed as part of the population analysis output) for the carbon and oxygen atoms for the various methods to one another and to the experimental values of 0.7 for the C2 carbon atom and 0.2 for the oxygen atom. Note that for the MP2 and QCISD calculations you will need to include the keyword Density=Current in the job s route section, which specifies that the population analysis be performed using the electron density computed by the current theoretical method (the default is to use the Hartree-Fock density). 

Compute the isotropic hyperfine coupling constant for each of the atoms in HNCN with the HF, MP2, MP4(SDQ) and QCISD methods, using the D95(d,p) basis set Make sure that the population analysis for each job uses the proper electron density by including the Density=Current keyword in the route section. Also, include the 5D keyword in each job s route sectionfas was done in the original study). 

Atoms defined in this way can be treated as quantum-mechanically distinct systems, and their properties may be computed by integrating over these atomic basins. The resulting properties are well-defined and are based on physical observables. This approach also contrasts with traditional methods for population analysis in that it is independent of calculation method and basis set. 

BOPs and atomic charges by population analysis are very sensitive to changes in the MO formulation and to the approximations (e.g. CNDO, EHT), and even to small basis set changes. 

The information obtainable upon solution of the eigenvalue problem includes the orbital energies eK and the corresponding wave function as a linear combination of the atomic basis set xi- The wave functions can then be subjected to a Mulliken population analysis<88) to provide the overlap populations Ptj ... 

Stuchebrukhov AA (1997) Tunneling currents in proteins nonorthogonal atomic basis sets and Mulliken population analysis. J Chem Phys 107(16) 6495-6498... 

The IAM model further assumes the atoms in a crystal to be neutral. This assumption is contradicted by the fact that molecules have dipole and higher electrostatic moments, which can indeed be derived from the X-ray diffraction intensities, as further discussed in chapter 7. The molecular dipole moment results, in part, from the nonspherical distribution of the atomic densities, but a large component is due to charge transfer between atoms of different electronegativity. A population analysis of an extended basis-set SCF wave function of HF, for example, gives a net charge q of +0.4 electron units (e) on the H atom in HF for CH4 the value is +0.12 e (Szabo and Ostlund 1989). 

The problem with this analysis is that the selection of one or another basis set dramatically affects the calculated charges and occasionally leads to unphysical results [44]. Overlap populations (8.2) are largely responsible for this situation. 

Mulliken s formula for Nk implies the half-and-half (50/50) partitioning of all overlap populations among the centers k,l,... involved. On one hand, this distribution is perhaps arbitrary, which invites alternative modes of handling overlap populations. On the other hand, Mayer s analysis [172,173] vindicates Mulliken s procedure. So we may suggest a nuance in the interpretation [44] departures from the usual halving of overlap terms could be regarded as ad hoc corrections for an imbalance of the basis sets used for different atoms. But one way or another, the outcome is the same. It is clear that the partitioning problem should not be discussed without explicit reference to the bases that are used in the LCAO expansions. 

We have learned about the unique ordering of the carbon net charges relative to one another. All methods using Mulliken s population analysis, both ab initio and semiempirical, no matter what basis sets are used to construct the wavefunctions, reproduce the following sequence of inductive effects ... 

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