Maria Barysz

Infinite-order two-component theory for relativistic quantum chemistry

A method for the iterative algebraic generation of the numerically accurate two-component Hamiltonian for the use in relativistic quantum chemistry is presented. The separation of the electronic and positronic states of the Dirac Hamiltonian is accomplished by the algebraic solution for the Foldy–Wouthuysen transformation. This leads to the two-component formalism whose accuracy is primarily limited by the choice of basis functions. Its performance is tested in calculations of the most sensitive 1s1/2 energy for increasing values of the nuclear charge. These calculations show that the electronic part of the Dirac eigenspectrum can be obtained from the two-component theory to arbitrarily high accuracy. Moreover, if needed, the positronic states can be separately determined in a similar way. Thus the present method can be also used for the evaluation of quantum electrodynamic corrections in the finite basis set approximation.

Two-component methods of relativistic quantum chemistry: from the Douglas–Kroll approximation to the exact two-component formalism

Abstract The two-component methods of relativistic quantum chemistry based on the Foldy–Wouthuysen (FW) transformations of the Dirac hamiltonian are reviewed. Following the strategy designed by Douglas and Kroll, the FW transformation is carried out in two steps. The first amounts to performing the exact free-particle FW transformation. At variance with other approaches, the second step is written in the form, which results in a nonlinear operator equation. This equation can be solved iteratively, leading to two-component hamiltonians of arbitrarily high accuracy in even powers of the fine structure constant. All these hamiltonians can be classified according to their completeness with respect to the leading order in the fine structure constant. On passing to the basis set representation one obtains the usual Douglas–Kroll hamiltonian and all possible higher-order approximations. By a simple modification of the operator equation which determines the block-diagonalizing transformation one can obtain numerical infinite-order solutions, i.e. one can obtain the exact numerical solution for the separation of the pure electronic part of the Dirac spectrum. This gives the exact two-component method for the use in relativistic quantum chemistry. The computational aspects of this approach are discussed as well. The transition from the Dirac formalism to any two-component approximation is accompanied by the change of all operators, including those which correspond to external perturbations and lead to properties of different orders. This so-called change of picture problem is given particular attention and its importance for certain operators is identified.

Two-component relativistic methods for the heaviest elements

Different generalized Douglas-Kroll transformed Hamiltonians (DKn, n=1, 2,...,5) proposed recently by Hess et al. are investigated with respect to their performance in calculations of the spin-orbit splittings. The results are compared with those obtained in the exact infinite-order two-component (IOTC) formalism which is fully equivalent to the four-component Dirac approach. This is a comprehensive investigation of the ability of approximate DKn methods to correctly predict the spin-orbit splittings. On comparing the DKn results with the IOTC (Dirac) data one finds that the calculated spin-orbit splittings are systematically improved with the increasing order of the DK approximation. However, even the highest-order approximate two-component DK5 scheme shows certain deficiencies with respect to the treatment of the spin-orbit coupling terms in very heavy systems. The meaning of the removal of the spin-dependent terms in the so-called spin-free (scalar) relativistic methods for many-electron systems is discussed and a computational investigation of the performance of the spin-free DKn and IOTC methods for many-electron Hamiltonians is carried out. It is argued that the spin-free IOTC rather than the Dirac-Coulomb results give the appropriate reference for other spin-free schemes which are based on approximate two-component Hamiltonians. This is illustrated by calculations of spin-free DKn and IOTC total energies, r(-1) expectation values, ionization potentials, and electron affinities of heavy atomic systems.

Systematic treatment of relativistic effects accurate through arbitrarily high order in α2

A systematic method for the generation of two-component relativistic Hamiltonians for use in relativistic quantum chemistry is presented and discussed. The free particle Foldy–Wouthuysen transformation of the Dirac Hamiltonian is performed prior to the determination of the block-diagonalizing unitary transformation. The latter can be determined iteratively through arbitrarily high leading order with respect to α (fine structure constant). Certain freedom in the initialization of the iterative solution leads to the whole class of two-component Hamiltonians h2k which are exact through the order of α2k and differ in contributions of all higher orders in α2. The efficiency of different iterative schemes is analyzed. Also the relation between the present method and the Douglas–Kroll approximation is investigated. The performance of two-component Hamiltonians for k=2, 3, and 4 is studied numerically in calculations of energies of the 1s1/2 level in heavy hydrogen-like ions. Their performance in calculations of ...

The relativistic scheme for eliminating small components Hamiltonian: Analysis of approximations

The derivation of the recently proposed one-component relativistic Hamiltonian, and the resulting relativistic scheme by eliminating small components (RESC) method of Nakajima and Hirao, are analyzed in terms of the Foldy–Wouthuysen transformation of the Dirac Hamiltonian. This approach reveals the meaning of different approximations used in the derivation of the RESC Hamiltonian and its close relation to approximate relativistic Hamiltonians resulting from the free-particle Foldy–Wouthuysen transformation. Moreover, the present derivation combined with what is called the classical approximation in Nakajima and Hirao’s approach shows that there is a whole family of the RESC-type Hamiltonians. Some of them, including the original RESC Hamiltonian, are analyzed numerically. It is documented that neither of the RESC-type Hamiltonians offers variational stability. As a consequence the RESC methods may suffer from the variational collapse for heavier systems. On the other hand the energy differences (e.g., ion...

Electronic states of the copper, silver, and gold silicides and their ions

The results of theoretical calculations for the ground state and low-lying excited states of SiCu, SiAg, and SiAu, and their ions SiCu+, SiAg+, SiAu+ and SiCu−, SiAg−, SiAu− are presented. Calculations were carried out with high-level correlated methods including relativistic corrections at the level of the Douglas–Kroll approximation. The ground state data are compared with the recent experimental findings and they differ in the assignment of the ground-state symmetry. All neutral silicides are predicted to have the electronic ground state of 2Π symmetry, in agreement with earlier theoretical data. The neutral species and both negative and positive ions of silicides are found to be quite stable in the ground electronic state and in several low-lying excited states. The relativistic effects bring significant contribution to the stabilization of the gold silicide and its ions in all electronic states investigated in this paper.

Darwin and mass-velocity relativistic corrections in non-Born-Oppenheimer variational calculations

The Pauli approach to account for the mass-velocity and Darwin relativistic corrections has been applied to the formalism for quantum mechanical molecular calculations that does not assume the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) approximation regarding separability of the electronic and nuclear motions in molecular systems. The corrections are determined using the first order perturbation theory and are derived for the non-BO wave function of a diatomic system expressed in terms of explicitly correlated Gaussian functions with premultipliers in the form of even powers of the internuclear distance. As a numerical example we used calculations of the transition energies for pure vibrational states of the HD(+) ion.

Darwin and mass-velocity relativistic corrections in the non-Born-Oppenheimer calculations of pure vibrational states of H2

The Darwin and mass-velocity relativistic corrections have been calculated for all pure vibrational states of the H2 using the perturbation theory and very accurate variational wave functions obtained without assuming the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) approximation. Expansions in terms of explicitly correlated Gaussians with premultipliers in the form of even powers of the internuclear distance were used for the wave functions. With the inclusion of the two relativistic corrections to the non-BO energies the transition energies for the highest states agree more with the experimental results.

ELECTRONIC STATES OF THE COPPER SILICIDE AND ITS IONS

Potential energy curves and spectroscopic parameters of the ground and exited states of SiCu, SiCu+, and SiCu− are presented. The calculations were performed by high-level correlated methods including the relativistic correction for the lowest states. The present results are compared with recent theoretical and experimental studies of SiCu and its ions and support the earlier theoretical conclusions concerning the assignment of the electronic ground state of SiCu. According to calculations presented in this paper the lowest energy states of SiCu, SiCu+, and SiCu−, are 2Πr, 1Σ+, and 3Σ−, respectively.

Relativistic two-component infinite order method for atomic core ionization potentials

In this paper the authors have applied the infinite-order two-component method (IOTC) to compute the valence and inner shell ionization potentials for the Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe elements. The obtained results show the very good performance of the recently defined relativistic IOTC method. They also confirm the importance of the relativistic effects in the determination of the inner shell ionization potentials.