Electron correlation methods size consistency

A more accurate but computationally expensive set of multistate Gaussian options is provided by the SAC-CI keyword, based on coupled-cluster (CC) techniques for incorporating electron correlation and size-consistency corrections for higher-level excitations. The SAC-CI options cover a wide range of excitation and ionization phenomena, including provision for spin state and symmetry control with analytic derivatives and density corrections for specific target roots. Thus, SAC-CI can offer benchmark-like accuracy for assessing lower-level CI/CAS methods, but involves considerable increase in computational cost and input-keyword complexity. 

Coupled cluster with singles and doubles excitations (CCSD) is a size-consistent post-HF electron correlation method. The wavefunction, Y, in coupled cluster theory is formulated in terms of a cluster (exponential) expansion including the single and double excitation operators 7i and %. The effect of triple excitations (T) is calculated with perturbation theory. 

Size-extensivity is of importance when one wishes to compare several similar systems with different numbers of atoms (i.e., methanol, ethanol, etc.). In all cases, the amount of correlation energy will increase as the number of atoms increases. However, methods that are not size-extensive will give less correlation energy for the larger system when considered in proportion to the number of electrons. Size-extensive methods should be used in order to compare the results of calculations on different-size systems. Methods can be approximately size-extensive. The size-extensivity and size-consistency of various methods are summarized in Table 26.1. 

Some methods of describing electron correlation are compared from the point of view of requirements for theoretical chemical models. The perturbation approach originally introduced by Mpller and Plesset, terminated at finite order, is found to satisfy most of these requirements. It is size consistent, that is applicable to an ensemble of isolated systems in an additive manner. On the other hand, it does not provide an upper bound for the electronic energy. ... 

The electron correlation problem remains a central research area for quantum chemists, as its solution would provide the exact energies for arbitrary systems. Today there exist many procedures for calculating the electron correlation energy (/), none of which, unfortunately, is both robust and computationally inexpensive. Configuration interaction (Cl) methods provide a conceptually simple route to correlation energies and a full Cl calculation will provide exact energies but only at prohibitive computational cost as it scales factorially with the number of basis functions, N. Truncated Cl methods such as CISD (A cost) are more computationally feasible but can still only be used for small systems and are neither size consistent nor size extensive. Coupled cluster... 

Establishing a hierarchy of rapidly converging, generally applicable, systematic approximations of exact electronic wave functions is the holy grail of electronic structure theory [1]. The basis of these approximations is the Hartree-Fock (HF) method, which defines a simple noncorrelated reference wave function consisting of a single Slater determinant (an antisymmetrized product of orbitals). To introduce electron correlation into the description, the wave function is expanded as a combination of the reference and excited Slater determinants obtained by promotion of one, two, or more electrons into vacant virtual orbitals. The approximate wave functions thus defined are characterized by the manner of the expansion (linear, nonlinear), the maximum excitation rank, and by the size of one-electron basis used to represent the orbitals. 

For the treatment of electron correlation, Cizek uses classical techniques as well as techniques based on mathematical methods of quantum field theory, namely, a coupled-cluster approach. A rapid development and deployment of these methods during the past decade was stimulated by the realization of the importance of size consistency or size extensivity in the studies of reactive chemical processes. Although truly remarkable accuracy and development have been achieved for ground states of closed-shell systems, an extension to quasidegenerate and general open-shell systems is most challenging. Cizek also works on the exploitation of these approaches to study the electronic structure of extended systems (molecular crystals, polymers107). His many interests in-... 

The coupled cluster (CC) method is actually related to both the perturbation (Section 5.4.2) and the Cl approaches (Section 5.4.3). Like perturbation theory, CC theory is connected to the linked cluster theorem (linked diagram theorem) [101], which proves that MP calculations are size-consistent (see below). Like standard Cl it expresses the correlated wavefunction as a sum of the HF ground state determinant and determinants representing the promotion of electrons from this into virtual MOs. As with the Mpller-Plesset equations, the derivation of the CC equations is complicated. The basic idea is to express the correlated wave-function Tasa sum of determinants by allowing a series of operators 7), 73,... to act on the HF wavefunction ... 

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