J.G. Snijders

Assessment of conventional density functional schemes for computing the polarizabilities and hyperpolarizabilities of conjugated oligomers: An ab initio investigation of polyacetylene chains

DFT schemes based on conventional and less conventional exchange-correlation (XC) functionals have been employed to determine the polarizability and second hyperpolarizability of π-conjugated polyacetylene chains. These functionals fail in one or more of several ways: (i) the correlation correction to α is either much too small or in the wrong direction, leading to an overestimate; (ii) γ is significantly overestimated; (iii) the chain length dependence is excessively large, particularly for γ and for the more alternant system; and (iv) the bond length alternation effects on γ are either underestimated or qualitatively incorrect. The poor results with the asymptotically correct van Leeuwen–Baerends XC potential show that the overestimations are not related to the asymptotic behavior of the potential. These failures are described in terms of the separate effects of the exchange and the correlation parts of the XC functionals. They are related to the short-sightedness of the XC potentials which are relatively insensitive to the polarization charge induced by the external electric field at the chain ends.

Calculating frequency-dependent hyperpolarizabilities using time-dependent density functional theory

An accurate determination of frequency-dependent molecular hyperpolarizabilities is at the same time of possible technological importance and theoretically challenging. For large molecules, Hartree–Fock theory was until recently the only available ab initio approach. However, correlation effects are usually very important for this property, which makes it desirable to have a computationally efficient approach in which those effects are (approximately) taken into account. We have recently shown that frequency-dependent hyperpolarizabilities can be efficiently obtained using time-dependent density functional theory. Here, we shall present the necessary theoretical framework and the details of our implementation in the Amsterdam Density Functional program. Special attention will be paid to the use of fit functions for the density and to numerical integration, which are typical of density functional codes. Numerical examples for He, CO, and para-nitroaniline are presented, as evidence for the correctness of the equations and the implementation.

Accurate density functional calculations on frequency-dependent hyperpolarizabilities of small molecules

In this paper we present time-dependent density functional calculations on frequency-dependent first (β) and second (γ) hyperpolarizabilities for the set of small molecules, N2, CO2, CS2, C2H4, NH3, CO, HF, H2O, and CH4, and compare them to Hartree–Fock and correlated ab initio calculations, as well as to experimental results. Both the static hyperpolarizabilities and the frequency dispersion are studied. Three approximations to the exchange-correlation (xc) potential are used: the widely used Local Density Approximation (LDA), the Becke–Lee–Yang–Parr (BLYP) Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA), as well as the asymptotically correct Van Leeuwen–Baerends (LB94) potential. For the functional derivatives of the xc potential the Adiabatic Local Density Approximation (ALDA) is used. We have attempted to estimate the intrinsic quality of these methods by using large basis sets, augmented with several diffuse functions, yielding good agreement with recent numerical static LDA results. Contrary to claims whic...

Erratum: “Calculating frequency-dependent hyperpolarizabilities using time-dependent density functional theory” [J. Chem. Phys. 109, 10644 (1998)]

An accurate determination of frequency-dependent molecular hyperpolarizabilities is at the same time of possible technological importance and theoretically challenging. For large molecules, Hartree–Fock theory was until recently the only available ab initio approach. However, correlation effects are usually very important for this property, which makes it desirable to have a computationally efficient approach in which those effects are (approximately) taken into account. We have recently shown that frequency-dependent hyperpolarizabilities can be efficiently obtained using time-dependent density functional theory. Here, we shall present the necessary theoretical framework and the details of our implementation in the Amsterdam Density Functional program. Special attention will be paid to the use of fit functions for the density and to numerical integration, which are typical of density functional codes. Numerical examples for He, CO, and para-nitroaniline are presented, as evidence for the correctness of the equations and the implementation.

Direct spectroscopic determination of the degree of orientation of parity-selected NO

Abstract If a polar molecule can be selected in a rotational state of definite parity, subsequent orientation of the molecule in an electric field mixes opposite parity states. The degree of mixing reflects the degree of orientation. Therefore, the intensity ratio of spectral lines that correspond to transitions starting from the two parity states being mixed, forms a sensitive and accurate probe of the molecular orientation. If saturation of the spectral lines of interest is avoided, the absolute degree of orientation can be determined, without recourse to other experimental data but line intensities. The method is illustrated for the case of the NO molecule.