Multi-reference wave functions

The principle resonance contributions to the bonding in (H)3M(=CH2) were studied theoretically using a multi-reference wave function.19 The thermochemistry of Ta-alkylidene formation was examined, revealing a very large Ta=C bond enthalpy.20... 

Just as single reference Cl can be extended to MRCI, it is also possible to use perturbation methods with a multi-detenninant reference wave function. Formulating MR-MBPT methods, however, is not straightforward. The main problem here is similar to that of ROMP methods, the choice of the unperturbed Hamilton operator. Several different choices are possible, which will give different answers when the tlieory is carried out only to low order. Nevertheless, there are now several different implementations of MP2 type expansions based on a CASSCF reference, denoted CASMP2 or CASPT2. Experience of their performance is still somewhat limited. 

Specifically, if T] < 0.02, the CCSD(T) metliod is expected to give results close the full Cl limit for the given basis set. If is larger than 0.02, it indicates that the reference wave function has significant multi-determinant character, and multi-reference coupled cluster should preferentially be employed. Such methods are being developedbut have not yet seen any extensive use. 

Such a wave function is represented by a linear combination of wave functions for more than one electron configuration, and is called a "multi-configurational" wave function. The consideration of more than one configuration can reduce the correlation error. Such an approach is referred to as the method of configuration interaction (Cl) . 

Structures were optimized at the theoretical level described in Table 1, footnote a. Final energies were obtained by using multi-reference configuration interaction (MRCI) wave functions including single and double excitations from die reference wave functions. cFrom Reference 8. 

When the reference wave function contains substantial multi-reference character, a ... 

When the reference wave function contains substantial multi-reference character, a perturbation expansion based on a single determinant will display poor convergence. If the reference wave function suffers from symmetry breaking (Section 3.8.3), the... 

Just as single reference Cl can be extended to MRCI, it is also possible to use perturbation methods with a multi-determinant reference wave function. Formulating... 

Eq. (15b) for OH + H2 using multi reference configuration interaction wave functions. 

It is possible to construct a Cl wave function starting with an MCSCF calculation rather than starting with a HF wave function. This starting wave function is called the reference state. These calculations are called multi-reference conhguration interaction (MRCI) calculations. There are more Cl determinants in this type of calculation than in a conventional Cl. This type of calculation can be very costly in terms of computing resources, but can give an optimal amount of correlation for some problems. 

The relative importance of tlie different excitations may qualitatively be understood by noting tliat the doubles provide electron correlation for electron pairs, Quadruply excited determinants are important as they primarily correspond to products of double excitations. The singly excited determinants allow inclusion of multi-reference charactei in the wave function, i.e. they allow the orbitals to relax . Although the HF orbitals are optimum for the single determinant wave function, that is no longer the case when man) determinants are included. The triply excited determinants are doubly excited relative tc the singles, and can then be viewed as providing correlation for the multi-reference part of the Cl wave function. 

Since the UHF wave function is multi-determinantal in terms of R(0)HF determinants, it follows that it to some extent includes electron correlation (relative to the RHF reference). 

The reference (zeroth-order) function in the CASPT2 method is a predetermined CASSCF wave function. The coefficients in the CAS function are thus fixed and are not affected by the perturbation operator. This choice of the reference function often works well when the other solutions to the CAS Hamiltonian are well separated in energy, but there may be a problem when two or more electronic states of the same symmetry are close in energy. Such situations are common for excited states. One can then expect the dynamic correlation to also affect the reference function. This problem can be handled by extending the perturbation treatment to include electronic states that are close in energy. This extension, called the Multi-State CASPT2 method, has been implemented by Finley and coworkers.24 We will briefly summarize the main aspects of the Multi-State CASPT2 method. 

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