Brillouin-Wigner perturbation theory description

Today, there remain a number of problems in molecular electronic structure theory. The most outstanding of these is undoubtedly the development of a robust theoretical apparatus for the accurate description of dissociative processes which usually demand the use of multi-reference functions. This requirement has recently kindled a renewal of interest in the Brillouin-Wigner perturbation theory and its application to such problems. This contribution describes the application of... 

The renewal of interest in Brillouin-Wigner perturbation theory for many-body systems seen in recent years, is driven by the need to develop a robust multi-reference theory. Multi-reference formalisms are an important prerequisite for theoretical descriptions of dissociative phenomena and of many electronically excited states. Brillouin-Wigner perturbation theory is seen as a remedy to a problem which plagues multi-reference Rayleigh-Schrodinger perturbation theory the so-called intruder state problem. 

In spite of this progress, problems remain and the description of electron correlation in molecules will remain an active field of research in the years ahead. The most outstanding problem is the development of robust theoretical apparatus for handling multi-reference treatments. Methods based on Rayleigh-Schrodinger perturbation theory suffer from the so-called intruder state problem. In recent years, it has been recognized that Brillouin-Wigner perturbation theory shows promise as a robust technique for the multi-reference problem which avoids the intruder state problem. 

In contrast to the Brillouin-Wigner perturbation theory, it is well known that Rayleigh-Schrddinger perturbation theory in its many-body form does afford a theoretical basis for the description of many-body systems. Again, March, Young and Sampanthar [55] write ... 

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