Reference wave function

The solutions for the unperturbed Hamilton operator from a complete set (since Ho is hermitian) which can be chosen to be orthonormal, and A is a (variable) parameter determining the strength of the perturbation. At present we will only consider cases where the perturbation is time-independent, and the reference wave function is non-degenerate. To keep the notation simple, we will furthermore only consider the lowest energy state. The perturbed Schrodinger equation is... 

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. 

Perturbation methods add all types of corrections (S, D, T, Q etc.) to the reference wave function to a given order (2, 3, 4 etc.). The idea in Coupled Cluster (CC) methods is to include all corrections of a given type to infinite order. The (intermediate normalized) coupled cluster wave function is written as... 

The T, operator aeting on a HF reference wave function generates all tth excited Slater determinants. 

Analogously to MP methods, coupled cluster theory may also be based on a UFIF reference wave function. The resulting UCC methods again suffer from spin contamination of the underlying UHF, but the infinite nature of coupled cluster methods is substantially better at reducing spin contamination relative to UMP. Projection methods analogous to those of the PUMP case have been considered but are not commonly used. ROHF based coupled cluster methods have also been proposed, but appear to give results very similar to UCC, especially at the CCSD(T) level. 

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. 

The acronym SEC refers to the case where the reference wave function is of the MCSCF type and tire correlation energy is calculated by an MR-CISD procedure. When the reference is a single determinant (HE) the SAC nomenclature is used. In the latter case the correlation energy may be calculated for example by MP2, MP4 or CCSD, producing acronyms like MP2-SAC, MP4-SAC and CCSD-SAC. In the SEC/SAC procedure the scale factor F is assumed constant over the whole surface. If more than one dissociation channel is important, a suitable average F may be used. 

The propagator may thus be written as an infinite series of expectation values of increasingly complex operators over the reference wave function. 

The RPA method may be improved either by choosing an MCSCF reference wave function, leading to the MCRPA method, or by extending the operator manifold beyond... 

Figures 11.9 and 11.10 compare the performance of the CCSD and CCSD(T) methods, based on either an RFIF or UHF reference wave function. Compared to the RMP plot (Figure 11.7), it is seen that the infinite nature of coupled cluster causes it to perform somewhat better as the reference wave function becomes increasingly poor. While the RMP4 energy curve follows the exact out to an elongation of 1.0A, the CCSD(T) has the same accuracy out to - 1.5 A. Eventually, however, the wrong dissociation limit of the RHF wave also makes the coupled cluster methods break down, and the energy starts to decrease.

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. 

While any approximate wave function O that consists of Slater determinants violates this cusp condition, the product (1 + (1 /2)ri2)4> may satisfy it exactly. Inspired by this knowledge and by the fact that a reference wave function (O0) still dominates in the exact correlated wave function, Kutzelnigg has suggested... 

Another class of methods uses more than one Slater determinant as the reference wave function. The methods used to describe electron correlation within these calculations are similar in some ways to the methods listed above. These methods include multiconfigurational self-consistent field (MCSCF), multireference single and double configuration interaction (MRDCI), and /V-clcctron valence state perturbation theory (NEVPT) methods.5... 

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. 

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