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Decomposition of the configuration-interaction coefficients in the multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree-Fock method

An approximate implementation of the multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree-Fock method is proposed, in which the matrix of configuration-interaction coefficients is decomposed into a product of matrices of smaller dimension. The applicability of this method in which all the configurations are kept in the expansion of the wave function, while the configuration-interaction coefficients are approximately calculated, is discussed by showing the results on three model systems: a one-dimensional model of a beryllium atom, a one-dimensional model of a carbon atom, and a one-dimensional model of a chain of four hydrogen atoms. The time-dependent electronic dynamics induced by a few-cycle, long-wavelength laser pulse is found to be well described at a lower computational cost compared to the standard multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree-Fock treatment. Drawbacks of the method are also discussed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Modern quantum chemistry with [Open]Molcas

MOLCAS/OpenMolcas is an ab initio electronic structure program providing a large set of computational methods from Hartree–Fock and density functional theory to various implementations of multiconfigurational theory. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the main features of the code, specifically reviewing the use of the code in previously reported chemical applications as well as more recent applications including the calculation of magnetic properties from optimized density matrix renormalization group wave functions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Ab Initio Reaction Kinetics of CH 3 O$\dot{C}$(=O) and $\dot{C}$H 2 OC(=O)H Radicals

The dissociation and isomerization kinetics of the methyl ester combustion intermediates methoxycarbonyl radical (CH3O$\dot{C}$(=O)) and (formyloxy)methyl radical ($\dot{C}$H2OC(=O)H) are investigated theoretically using high-level ab initio methods and Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM)/master equation (ME) theory. Geometries obtained at the hybrid density functional theory (DFT) and coupled cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples correction (CCSD(T)) levels of theory are found to be similar. We employ high-level ab initio wave function methods to refine the potential energy surface: CCSD(T), multireference singles and doubles configuration interaction (MRSDCI) with the Davidson–Silver (DS) correction, and multireference averaged coupled-pair functional (MRACPF2) theory. MRSDCI+DS and MRACPF2 capture the multiconfigurational character of transition states (TSs) and predict lower barrier heights than CCSD(T). The temperature- and pressure-dependent rate coefficients are computed using RRKM/ME theory in the temperature range 300–2500 K and a pressure range of 0.01 atm to the high-pressure limit, which are then fitted to modified Arrhenius expressions. Dissociation of CH3O$\dot{C}$(=O) to $\dot{C}$H3 and CO2 is predicted to be much faster than dissociating to CH3$\dot{O}$ and CO, consistent with its greater exothermicity. Isomerization between CH3O$\dot{C}$(=O) and $\dot{C}$H2OC(=O)H is predicted to be the slowest among the studied reactions and rarely happens even at high temperature and high pressure, suggesting the decomposition pathways of the two radicals are not strongly coupled. The predicted rate coefficients and branching fractions at finite pressures differ significantly from the corresponding high-pressure-limit results, especially at relatively high temperatures. Finally, because it is one of the most important CH3$\dot{O}$ removal mechanisms under atmospheric conditions, the reaction kinetics of CH3$\dot{O}$ + CO was also studied along the PES of CH3O$\dot{C}$(=O); the resulting kinetics predictions are in remarkable agreement with experiments.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A Combined Wave Function and Density Functional Approach for K-Edge X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Spectroscopy: A Case Study of Hydrated First-Row Transition Metal Ions

The prediction of X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) of transition metal complexes has important and broad application areas in chemistry and biology. In this letter, we have investigated the predictive ability of multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory (MC-PDFT) for X-ray absorption spectra by calculating the metal K pre-edge features of aquated 3d transition metal ions in common oxidation states. MC-PDFT results were compared with experimentally measured spectra as well as analyzed against results from restricted active-space second-order perturbation theory (RASPT2) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). As expected, TDDFT performs well for excited states that can be accurately represented by singly excited configurations but fails for excited states where higher order excitations become important. On the other hand, both RASPT2 and MC-PDFT provide quantitatively accurate results for all excited states irrespective of their character. While core-level spectroscopy with RASPT2 is accurate, it is computationally expensive. Finally, our results show that MC-PDFT performs equally well with significantly lower computational cost and is an encouraging alternate approach for X-ray spectroscopies.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Shake-up and shake-off spectra in the electron capture decay of atomic $^7$Be

The most stringent laboratory-based experimental limits on the existence of sub-MeV sterile neutrinos are currently set by decay spectroscopy of radioactive $^7$Be embedded into superconducting sensors. The systematic uncertainties are dominated by the modeling of the electron shake-up and shake-off spectra that are not based on state-of-the-art atomic theory and do not include electron correlations or relativistic effects. We have used the multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock formalism to obtain correlated wavefunctions ab initio and compute all single and double shake processes in the electron capture decay of atomic $^7$Be. The simulations can explain some but not all of the observed spectral features, likely because the wave functions are modified by the Ta sensor material that the $^7$Be is embedded into. The new models also show that the L/K electron capture ratio of $^7$Be in Ta has previously been slightly underestimated revising the previous value of 0.070(7) to a new value of 0.0756(20).

Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph)↗

Quantum-classical hybrid algorithm for the simulation of all-electron correlation

While chemical systems containing hundreds to thousands of electrons remain beyond the reach of quantum devices, hybrid quantum-classical algorithms present a promising pathway toward a quantum advantage. Hybrid algorithms treat the exponentially scaling part of the calculation-the static correlation-on the quantum computer and the non-exponentially scaling part-the dynamic correlation-on the classical computer. While a variety of algorithms have been proposed, the dependence of many methods on the total wave function limits the development of easy-to-use classical post-processing implementations. Here, we present a novel combination of quantum and classical algorithms, which computes the all-electron energy of a strongly correlated molecular system on the classical computer from the 2-electron reduced density matrix (2-RDM) evaluated on the quantum device. Significantly, we circumvent the wave function in the all-electron calculations by using density matrix methods that only require input of the statically correlated 2-RDM. Although the algorithm is completely general, we test it with two classical density matrix methods, the anti-Hermitian contracted Schrödinger equation (ACSE) and multiconfiguration pair-density functional theories, using the recently developed quantum ACSE method for simulating the statically correlated 2-RDM. Furthermore, we obtain experimental accuracy for the relative energies of all three benzyne isomers and thereby demonstrate the ability of the developed algorithm to achieve chemically relevant and accurate results on noisy intermediate-scale quantum devices.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Photoinduced non-adiabatic energy transfer pathways in dendrimer building blocks

The efficiency of the intramolecular energy transfer in light harvesting dendrimers is determined by their well-defined architecture with high degree of order. After photoexcitation, through-space and through-bond energy transfer mechanisms can take place, involving vectorial exciton migration among different chromophores within dendrimer highly branched structures. Their inherent intramolecular energy gradient depends on how the multiple chromophoric units have been assembled, subject to their inter-connects, spatial distances, and orientations. Herein, we compare the photoinduced nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations performed on a set of different combinations of a chain of linked dendrimer building blocks composed of two-, three-, and four-ring linear polyphenylene chromophoric units. The calculations are performed with the recently developed ab initio multiple cloning-time dependent diabatic basis implementation of the Multiconfigurational Ehrenfest (MCE) approach. Despite differences in short time relaxation pathways and different initial exciton localization, at longer time scales, electronic relaxation rates and exciton final redistributions are very similar for all combinations. Unlike the systems composed of two building blocks, considered previously, for the larger 3 block systems here we observe that bifurcation of the wave function accounted by cloning is important. In all the systems considered in this work, at the time scale of few hundreds of femtoseconds, cloning enhances the electronic energy relaxation by ~13% compared to that of the MCE method without cloning. Thus, accurate description of quantum effects is essential for understanding of the energy exchange in dendrimers both at short and long time scales.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

From Oxo to Oxyl to Biradical: Systematic Multireference Calculations of Methane Activation at MOF Nodes

Methane C–H activation at transition-metal sites often involves electronic structures that challenge conventional single-reference electronic structure descriptions. Although Kohn–Sham density functional theory (DFT) is widely used to study catalytic trends, its reliability for reactions involving strongly correlated species remains uncertain. Here we present a systematic multireference investigation of methane activation at metal–organic framework (MOF) node catalysts across the 3d transition-metal series. We introduce an automated workflow for active space selection to enable consistent application of multireference methods, including multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory and n-electron valence state perturbation theory, to these catalytic systems. These calculations show substantial static correlation in the C–H activation reaction step and predict activation barriers that differ from DFT by 30–70 kJ mol–1, with DFT often qualitatively disagreeing in barrier height trends across transition metals. Analysis of multireference wave functions shows that reactivity is governed by the electronic structure of the M–O moiety along a continuum from metal–oxo to oxyl radical and O biradical character. Increased oxygen-centered spin density and weakened M–O bonding are identified as descriptors of catalytic activity which correlate with lower activation barriers.

Wardzala, Jacob↗

Two-Center Interference in the Photoionization Delays of Kr 2

Herein we present the experimental observation of two-center interference in the ionization time delays of Kr 2 . Using attosecond electron-ion-coincidence spectroscopy, we simultaneously measure the photoionization delays of krypton monomer and dimer. The relative time delay is found to oscillate as a function of the electron kinetic energy, an effect that is traced back to constructive and destructive interference of the photoelectron wave packets that are emitted or scattered from the two atomic centers. Our interpretation of the experimental results is supported by solving the time-independent Schrödinger equation of a 1D double-well potential, as well as coupled-channel multiconfigurational quantum-scattering calculations of Kr 2 . This work opens the door to the study of a broad class of quantum-interference effects in photoionization delays and demonstrates the potential of attosecond coincidence spectroscopy for studying weakly bound systems.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Problem-free time-dependent variational principle for open quantum systems

Methods of quantum nuclear wave-function dynamics have become very efficient in simulating large isolated systems using the time-dependent variational principle (TDVP). However, a straightforward extension of the TDVP to the density matrix framework gives rise to methods that do not conserve the energy in the isolated system limit and the total system population for open systems where only energy exchange with environment is allowed. These problems arise when the system density is in a mixed state and is simulated using an incomplete basis. Thus, the basis set incompleteness, which is inevitable in practical calculations, creates artificial channels for energy and population dissipation. To overcome this unphysical behavior, we have introduced a constrained Lagrangian formulation of TDVP applied to a non-stochastic open system Schrödinger equation [L. Joubert-Doriol, I. G. Ryabinkin, and A. F. Izmaylov, J. Chem. Phys. 141, 234112 (2014)]. While our formulation can be applied to any variational ansatz for the system density matrix, derivation of working equations and numerical assessment is done within the variational multiconfiguration Gaussian approach for a two-dimensional linear vibronic coupling model system interacting with a harmonic bath.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Unbiased reduced density matrices and electronic properties from full configuration interaction quantum Monte Carlo

Properties that are necessarily formulated within pure (symmetric) expectation values are difficult to calculate for projector quantum Monte Carlo approaches, but are critical in order to compute many of the important observable properties of electronic systems. Here, we investigate an approach for the sampling of unbiased reduced density matrices within the full configuration interaction quantum Monte Carlo dynamic, which requires only small computational overheads. This is achieved via an independent replica population of walkers in the dynamic, sampled alongside the original population. The resulting reduced density matrices are free from systematic error (beyond those present via constraints on the dynamic itself) and can be used to compute a variety of expectation values and properties, with rapid convergence to an exact limit. A quasi-variational energy estimate derived from these density matrices is proposed as an accurate alternative to the projected estimator for multiconfigurational wavefunctions, while its variational property could potentially lend itself to accurate extrapolation approaches in larger systems.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Polarizable embedding with a multiconfiguration short-range density functional theory linear response method

We present here the coupling of a polarizable embedding (PE) model to the recently developed multiconfiguration short-range density functional theory method (MC-srDFT), which can treat multiconfigurational systems with a simultaneous account for dynamical and static correlation effects. PE-MC-srDFT is designed to combine efficient treatment of complicated electronic structures with inclusion of effects from the surrounding environment. The environmental effects encompass classical electrostatic interactions as well as polarization of both the quantum region and the environment. Using response theory, molecular properties such as excitation energies and oscillator strengths can be obtained. The PE-MC-srDFT method and the additional terms required for linear response have been implemented in a development version of DALTON. To benchmark the PE-MC-srDFT approach against the literature data, we have investigated the low-lying electronic excitations of acetone and uracil, both immersed in water solution. The PE-MC-srDFT results are consistent and accurate, both in terms of the calculated solvent shift and, unlike regular PE-MCSCF, also with respect to the individual absolute excitation energies. To demonstrate the capabilities of PE-MC-srDFT, we also investigated the retinylidene Schiff base chromophore embedded in the channelrhodopsin protein. While using a much more compact reference wave function in terms of active space, our PE-MC-srDFT approach yields excitation energies comparable in quality to CASSCF/CASPT2 benchmarks.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Energies and transition parameters of fusion interest in Cr-like ions between Hf XLIX and Au LVI

Using fully relativistic multiconfiguration Dirac–Fock (MCDF) wavefunctions in an active space approximation, we perform systematic calculations of the energies, wavelengths, and lifetimes for the lowest 143 levels belonging to the 3p{sup 6}3d{sup 6} and 3p{sup 5}3d{sup 7} configurations of Cr-like ions between Hf XLIX and Au LVI. Additionally, line strengths, oscillator strengths, and radiative rates for the electric dipole (E1), electric quadrupole (E2), magnetic dipole (M1), and magnetic quadrupole (M2) transitions among these levels are reported. In the calculations, the contributions from Breit interaction (BI) and quantum electrodynamics (QED) corrections to the wave functions are taken into account (the addition of the BI and QED in CI affects both the wave functions and the level energies). For some excited states, there are no other theoretical and/or experimental data to compare with to illustrate the quality of our results/assess the accuracy. A similar calculation has been performed with the Flexible Atomic Code (FAC), using W LI as an example. The results obtained in this work are compared with the data compiled in the Atomic Spectra Database (ASD) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and other available theoretical/experimental information. Satisfactory agreement is found between them. The energies agree within 0.8% with the experimental results, and the M1 transition rates agree within 5% with other theoretical results. The present results are more extensive than those from previous calculations and considerably expand the existing data sets for Cr-like ions. This study should be beneficial for the analysis of experimental spectra and modeling of fusion plasmas.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Overdestabilization vs Overstabilization in the Theoretical Analysis of f-Orbital Covalency

The complex nature of the f-orbital electronic structures and their interaction with the chemical environment pose significant computational challenges. Advanced computational techniques that variationally include scalar relativities and spin–orbit coupling directly at the molecular orbital level have been developed to address this complexity. Among these, variational relativistic multiconfigurational multireference methods stand out for their high accuracy and systematic improvement in studies of f-block complexes. Additionally, these advanced methods offer the potential for calibrating low-scaling electronic structure methods such as density functional theory. However, studies on the Cl K-edge X-ray absorption spectra of the [Ce(III)Cl 6 ] 3– and [Ce(IV)Cl 6 ] 2– complexes show that time-dependent density functional theory with approximate exchange–correlation kernels can lead to inaccuracies, resulting in an overstabilization of 4f orbitals and incorrect assessments of covalency. In contrast, approaches utilizing small active space wave function methods may understate the stability of these orbitals. The results herein demonstrate the need for large active space, multireference, and variational relativistic methods in studying f-block complexes.

chemical calculations↗

Molecular and electronic structure of Re 2 Br 4 (PMe 3 ) 4

The dinuclear rhenium(II) complex Re 2 Br 4 (PMe 3 ) 4 was prepared from the reduction of [Re 2 Br 8 ] 2– with ( n -Bu 4 N)BH 4 in the presence of PMe 3 in propanol. The complex was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) and UV–visible spectroscopy. It crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c space group and is isostructural with its molybdenum and technetium analogues. The Re–Re distance (2.2521(3) Å) is slightly longer than the one in Re 2 Cl 4 (PMe 3 ) 4 (2.247(1) Å). The molecular and electronic structure of Re 2 X 4 (PMe 3 ) 4 (X = Cl, Br) were studied by multiconfigurational quantum chemical methods. The computed ground-state geometry is in excellent agreement with the experimental structure determined by SCXRD. The calculated total bond order (2.75) is consistent with the presence of an electron-rich triple bond and is similar to the one found for Re 2 Cl 4 (PMe 3 ) 4 . The electronic absorption spectrum of Re 2 Br 4 (PMe 3 ) 4 was recorded in benzene and shows a series of low-intensity bands in the range 10 000–26 000 cm –1 . The absorption bands were assigned based on calculations of the excitation energies with the multireference wave functions followed by second-order perturbation theory using the CASSCF/CASPT2 method. As a result, calculations predict that the lowest energy band corresponds to the δ* → σ* transition, while the next higher energy bands were attributed to the δ* → π*, δ → σ*, and δ → π* transitions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Spin–Orbit Matrix Elements for a Combined Spin-Flip and IP/EA approach

We introduce a practical approach for computing the Breit–Pauli spin–orbit matrix elements of multiconfigurational systems with both spin and spatial degeneracies based on our recently developed RAS-nSF-IP/EA method (Houck, S. E.; et al. J. Chem. Theory Comput. 2019, 15, 2278). The spin–orbit matrix elements over all the multiplet components are computed using a single one-particle reduced density matrix as a result of the Wigner–Eckart theorem. A mean field spin–orbit approximation was used to account for the two-electron contributions. Basis set dependence as well as the effect of including additional excitations is presented. The effect of correlating the core and semicore orbitals is also examined. Surprisingly accurate results are obtained for spin–orbit coupling constants, despite the fact that the efficient wave function approximations we research neglect the bulk of dynamical correlation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Robust, Accurate, and Efficient: Quantum Embedding Using the Huzinaga Level-Shift Projection Operator for Complex Systems

Using wave function (WF) in density functional theory (DFT) embedding methods provides a framework for performing localized, high-accuracy WF calculations on a system, while not incurring the full computational cost of the WF calculation on the full system. To effectively partition a system into localized WF and DFT subsystems, we utilize the Huzinaga level-shift projection operator within an absolutely localized basis. In this work, we study the ability of the absolutely localized Huzinaga level-shift projection operator method to study complex WF and DFT partitions, including partitions between multiple covalent bonds, a double bond, and transition-metal–ligand bonds. We find that our methodology can accurately describe all of these complex partitions. Additionally, we study the robustness of this method with respect to the WF method, specifically where the embedded systems were described using a multiconfigurational WF method. We found that the method is systematically improvable with respect to both the number of atoms in the WF region and the size of the basis set used, with energy errors less than 1 kcal/mol. Additionally, we calculated the adsorption energy of H2 to a model of an iron metal–organic framework (Fe-MOF-74) to within 1 kcal/mol compared to CASPT2 calculations performed on the full model while incurring only a small fraction of the full computational cost. In conclusion, this work demonstrates that the absolutely localized Huzinaga level-shift projection operator method is applicable to very complex systems with difficult electronic structures.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Internal Conversion between Bright (1 1 B $^+_u$) and Dark (21 A $^-_g$) States in s- trans -Butadiene and s- trans -Hexatriene

Internal conversion (IC) between the two lowest singlet excited states, 1 1 B$_u^+$ and 2 1 A$_g^–$, of s-trans-butadiene and s-trans-hexatriene is investigated using a series of single- and multi- reference wave function and density functional theory (DFT) methodologies. Three independent types of the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster (EOMCC) theory capable of providing an accurate and balanced description of one- as well as two-electron transitions, abbreviated as δ-CR-EOMCC(2,3), DIP-EOMCC(4h2p){N o }, and DEA-EOMCC(4p2h){N u } or DEA-EOMCC(3p1h,4p2h){N u }, consistently predict that the 1 1 B$_u^+$/2 1 A$_g^–$ crossing in both molecules occurs along the bond length alternation coordinate. However, the analogous 1 1 B$_u^+$ and 2 1 A$_g^–$ potentials obtained with some multireference approaches, such as CASSCF and MRCIS(D), as well as with the linear-response formulation of time-dependent DFT (TDDFT), do not cross. Hence, caution needs to be exercised when studying the low-lying singlet excited states of polyenes with conventional multiconfigurational methods and TDDFT. The multistate many-body perturbation theory methods, such as XMCQDPT 2 , do correctly reproduce the curve crossing. Among the simplest and least expensive computational methodologies, the DFT approaches that incorporate the contributions of doubly excited configurations, abbreviated as MRSF (mixed reference spin-flip) TDDFT and SSR( 4,4 ), accurately reproduce our best EOMCC results. This is highly promising for nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations in larger systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗