Relativistic calculation methods

Relativistic density functional theory can be used for all electron calculations. Relativistic DFT can be formulated using the Pauli formula or the zero-order regular approximation (ZORA). ZORA calculations include only the zero-order term in a power series expansion of the Dirac equation. ZORA is generally regarded as the superior method. The Pauli method is known to be unreliable for very heavy elements, such as actinides. 

A number of types of calculations can be performed. These include optimization of geometry, transition structure optimization, frequency calculation, and IRC calculation. It is also possible to compute electronic excited states using the TDDFT method. Solvation effects can be included using the COSMO method. Electric fields and point charges may be included in the calculation. Relativistic density functional calculations can be run using the ZORA method or the Pauli Hamiltonian. The program authors recommend using the ZORA method. 

Relativistic Methods for Molecular Calculations and Diatomic Gold Compounds... 

In this chapter, we therefore consider whether it is possible to eliminate spin-orbit coupling from four-component relativistic calculations. This is a situation quite different from that of more approximate relativistic methods where a considerable effort is required for the inclusion of spin-orbit coupling. We have previously shown that it is indeed possible to eliminate spin-orbit coupling from the calculation of spectroscopic constants [12,13]. In this chapter, we consider the extension of the previous result to the calculation of second-order electric and magnetic properties, i.e., linear response functions. Although the central question of this article may seem somewhat technical, it will be seen that its consideration throws considerable light on the fundamental interactions in molecular systems. We will even claim that four-component relativistic theory is the optimal framework for the understanding of such interactions since they are inherently relativistic. 

Table 6 Matrix Dirac-Hartree-Fock (Edhf) and Hartree-Fock (Ehf) energies calculated using BERTHA. The Gaussian exponential parameters are those of the non-relativistic sets derived by van Duijenveldt and tabulated in Poirier et al [36]. Thejirst-order molecular Breit energy, Eb, v as calculated using methods described in [12] relativistic corrections to Ehf collected in the column labelled E energies are in atomic units.

Bioinorganic systems often contain heavy elements that need to be treated with an explicit relativistic method. It is now possible to carry out an explicit relativistic electronic structure calculation on the fly (152). The scalar-relativistic Douglas - Kroll - Hess method was implemented by us recently in the BOMD simulation framework (152). To use the relativistic densities in a non-relativistic gradient calculations turned out to be a valid approximation of relativistic gradients. An excellent agreement between optimized structures and geometries obtained from numerical gradients was observed with an error smaller than 0.02 pm. 

As material science progresses, the size and complexity of the created structures increase. The pursuit of analytical solutions for LELS of these objects becomes very cumbersome and the future could well be in numerical solutions. The Boundary Element Method (BEM) has recently [37] been proven successful in calculating relativistic spectra of any-shape objects. Although anisotropic dielectric functions are not yet implemented, the LELS region, thanks to these new computing tools, should grow in use in a very near future. Indeed, the spectra are material-shape dependent which should be seen, not as a drawback, but as a very valuable piece of additional information. 

Methods to calculate the electronic structures of very heavy element compounds are the same relativistic methods which can be applied to any relativistic systems. They were overviewed in application to transition elements [13], actinides [38], and transactinides [15-17]. They will, therefore, be only shortly described here with the accent put on those which were used for calculations of the transactinide systems. 

Comparisons with other theoretical methods are important. Our Cu calculations are based on the pseudopotential of Pellisier [35], who applied it to the Cu2 system. A controversy arose when CASSCF-CCI calculations on the same system seemed to imply [4lQ] that the CIPSI calculations matched the experimental energy too well for a non-relativistic method. Pellisier [43] replied by showing his pseudopotential included relativistic effects. 

Relativistic Methods 204 8.1 Connection Between the Dirac and Schrodinger Equations 207 8.2 Many-particle Systems 210 8.3 Four-component Calculations 213 11.4.1 Ab Initio Methods 272 11.4.2 DFT Methods 273 11.5 Bond Dissociation Curve 274 11.5.1 Basis Set Effect at the HF Level 274 11.5.2 Performance of Different Types of Wave Function 276... 

Since relativistic methods are reviewed elsewhere including a review in these volumes " , I will be content with a brief mention of the few available calculations for 5d dimers. 

The different approximations for all-electron relativistic calculations using one-component methods have recently been compared with each other and with relativistic ECP calculations of TM carbonyls by several workers (47,55). Table 6 shows the calculated bond lengths and FBDEs for the group 6 hexacarbonyls predicted when different relativistic methods are used. The results, which were obtained at the nonrelativistic DFT level, show the increase in the relativistic effects from 3d to 4d and 5d elements. It becomes obvious that the all-electron DFT calculations using the different relativistic approximations—scalar-relativistic (SR) zero-order regular approximation (ZORA), quasi-relativistic (QR) Pauli... 

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