Spin-restricted Hartree-Fock method Self-consistent field

Introductory descriptions of Hartree-Fock calculations [often using Rootaan s self-consistent field (SCF) method] focus on singlet systems for which all electron spins are paired. By assuming that the calculation is restricted to two electrons per occupied orbital, the computation can be done more efficiently. This is often referred to as a spin-restricted Hartree-Fock calculation or RHF. 

In solving Eq. (2), an iterative process is used to adjust the until the best wavefunction is found [self-consistent field (SCF) theory]. For the open shell case where incompletely filled orbitals exist, spin-restricted Hartree-Fock (RHF) methods or unrestricted Hartree-Fock (UHF) methods may be used to calculate the energies.41 The extent of calculation, approximation, or neglect of the two-electron integral terms largely defines the computation method. 

PDDO PRDDO RHF SAMO SCF SOGI STO STO-nG UA UHF VB VIP Projectors of Diatomic Differential Overlap Partial Retention of Diatomic Differential Overlap Restricted Hartree-Fock Simulated ab initio Method Self Consistent Field Spin Optimized GVB method Slater Type Orbital Slater Type Orbital expanded in terms of nGTO United Atom Unrestricted Hartree-Fock Valence Bond Vertical Ionization Potential... 

For a long time, the Hartree-Fock (HF) theory combined with the self-consistent field (SCF) procedure proved arguably to be the most useful method for computational chemists despite its well-known limitations. Within its framework, orbitals can be constmcted to reflect paired or unpaired electrons. If the molecular system has a singlet spin state, then the same orbital spatial function can be used for both the Gland (3-spin electrons in each pair. This assumption is called the restricted Hartree-Fock method (RHF). 

Hyperfine couplings, in particular the isotropic part which measures the spin density at the nuclei, puts special demands on spin-restricted wave-functions. For example, complete active space (CAS) approaches are designed for a correlated treatment of the valence orbitals, while the core orbitals are doubly occupied. This leaves little flexibility in the wave function for calculating properties of this kind that depend on the spin polarization near the nucleus. This is equally true for self-consistent field methods, like restricted open-shell Hartree-Fock (ROHF) or Kohn-Sham (ROKS) methods. On the other hand, unrestricted methods introduce spin contamination in the reference (ground) state resulting in overestimation of the spin-polarization. 

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