Electronic structure energy accuracy

Traditional electronic structure energy calculations consist of a single job. However, a calculation at a very accurate level of theory can take a very long time to complete. In an effort to achieve high accuracy results at less computational cost, several new model chemistries have been defined as a series of calculations to be run and a... 

The general potential LAPW teclmiques are generally acknowledged to represent the state of the art with respect to accuracy in condensed matter electronic-structure calculations (see, for example, [62, 73]). These methods can provide the best possible answer within DFT with regard to energies and wavefiinctions. 

To provide further insight why the SCF mean-field model in electronic structure theory is of limited accuracy, it can be noted that the average value of the kinetic energy plus the attraction to the Be nucleus plus the SCF interaction potential for one of the 2s orbitals of Be with the three remaining electrons in the s 2s configuration is ... 

The characteristic lines observed in the absorption (and emission) spectra of nearly isolated atoms and ions due to transitions between quantum levels are extremely sharp. As a result, their wavelengths (photon energies) can be determined with great accuracy. The lines are characteristic of a particular atom or ion and can be used for identification purposes. Molecular spectra, while usually less sharp than atomic spectra, are also relatively sharp. Positions of spectral lines can be determined with sufficient accuracy to verify the electronic structure of the molecules. 

Modern theories of electronic structure at a metal surface, which have proved their accuracy for bare metal surfaces, have now been applied to the calculation of electron density profiles in the presence of adsorbed species or other external sources of potential. The spillover of the negative (electronic) charge density from the positive (ionic) background and the overlap of the former with the electrolyte are the crucial effects. Self-consistent calculations, in which the electronic kinetic energy is correctly taken into account, may have to replace the simpler density-functional treatments which have been used most often. The situation for liquid metals, for which the density profile for the positive (ionic) charge density is required, is not as satisfactory as for solid metals, for which the crystal structure is known. 

Measuring physical-chemical properties of the clusters, such as ionization potential (IP), binding energy (BE), electron (EA) and proton affinity (PA), fragmentation channels, electronic structure and so on, provides a basis for the comprehension of the intrinsic forces acting in the clusters and governing their dynamics. Theoretical computation of these quantities may provide a feedback to evaluate the quality of the calculations and the accuracy of the experimental determinations. 

The vast majority of quantum chemical studies focus on equilibrium properties. However, a detailed understanding of chemical reactions requires a description of their chemical dynamics, which in turn requires information about the change in potential energy as bonds are broken or formed. Even though modem electronic structure theory can provide near-spectroscopic accuracy for small molecular systems near their equilibrium geometries, the general description of potential energy surfaces away from equilibrium remains very much a frontier area of research. 

---