Wuming Zhu

Range-separated density-functional theory with random phase approximation applied to noncovalent intermolecular interactions

Range-separated methods combining a short-range density functional with long-range random phase approximations (RPAs) with or without exchange response kernel are tested on rare-gas dimers and the S22 benchmark set of weakly interacting complexes of Jurecka et al. [Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 8, 1985 (2006)]. The methods are also compared to full-range RPA approaches. Both range separation and inclusion of the Hartree-Fock exchange kernel largely improve the accuracy of intermolecular interaction energies. The best results are obtained with the method called RSH+RPAx, which yields interaction energies for the S22 set with an estimated mean absolute error of about 0.5-0.6 kcal/mol, corresponding to a mean absolute percentage error of about 7%-9% depending on the reference interaction energies used. In particular, the RSH+RPAx method is found to be overall more accurate than the range-separated method based on long-range second-order Moller-Plesset (MP2) perturbation theory (RSH+MP2).

Range-separated density-functional theory with the random-phase approximation: Detailed formalism and illustrative applications

Using Greens-function many-body theory, we present the details of a formally exact adiabatic-connection fluctuation-dissipation density-functional theory based on range separation, which was sketched in Toulouse et al.[Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 096404 (2009)]. Range-separated density-functional theory approaches combining short-range density-functional approximations with long-range random-phase approximations (RPAs) are then obtained as well-identified approximations on the long-range Greens-function self-energy. Range-separated RPA-type schemes with or without long-range Hartree-Fock exchange response kernel are assessed on rare-gas and alkaline-earth-metal dimers and compared to range-separated second-order perturbation theory and range-separated coupled-cluster theory.

Closed-shell ring coupled cluster doubles theory with range separation applied on weak intermolecular interactions

We explore different variants of the random phase approximation to the correlation energy derived from closed-shell ring-diagram approximations to coupled cluster doubles theory. We implement these variants in range-separated density-functional theory, i.e., by combining the long-range random phase approximations with short-range density-functional approximations. We perform tests on the rare-gas dimers He(2), Ne(2), and Ar(2), and on the weakly interacting molecular complexes of the S22 set of Jurečka et al. [P. Jurečka, J. Šponer, J. Černý, and P. Hobza, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 8, 1985 (2006)]. The two best variants correspond to the ones originally proposed by Szabo and Ostlund [A. Szabo and N. S. Ostlund, J. Chem. Phys. 67, 4351 (1977)]. With range separation, they reach mean absolute errors on the equilibrium interaction energies of the S22 set of about 0.4 kcal/mol, corresponding to mean absolute percentage errors of about 4%, with the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set.

Exact density functionals for two-electron systems in an external magnetic field

In principle, the extension of density functional theory (DFT) to Coulombic systems in a nonvanishing magnetic field is via current DFT (CDFT). Though CDFT is long established formally, relatively little is known with respect to any generally applicable, reliable approximate E(XC) and A(XC) functionals analogous with the workhorse approximate functionals (local density approximation and generalized gradient approximation) of ordinary DFT. Progress can be aided by having benchmark studies on a solvable correlated system. At zero field, the best-known finite system for such purposes is Hookes atom. Recently we extended the exact ground state solutions for this two-electron system to certain combinations of nonzero external magnetic fields and confinement strengths. From those exact solutions, as well as high-accuracy numerical results for other field and confinement combinations, we construct the correlated electron density and paramagnetic current density, the exact Kohn-Sham orbitals, and the exact DFT and CDFT exchange-correlation energies and potentials. We compare with results from several widely used approximate functionals, all of which exhibit major qualitative failures, whether in CDFT or in naive application of ordinary DFT. We also illustrate how the CDFT vorticity variable nu is a computationally difficult quantity which may not be appropriate in practice to describe the external B field effects on E(XC) and A(XC).

Computational studies of metal-carbon nanotube interfaces for regrowth and electronic transport.

First principles and tight binding Monte Carlo simulations show that junctions between single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and nickel clusters are on the cluster surface, and not at subsurface sites, irrespective of the nanotube chirality, temperature, and whether the docking is gentle or forced. Gentle docking helps to preserve the pristine structure of the SWNT at the metal interface, whereas forced docking may partially dissolve the SWNT in the cluster. This is important for SWNT-based electronics and SWNT-seeded regrowth.

Changes in single-walled carbon nanotube chirality during growth and regrowth

A simple model for joining two single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with different, arbitrary chiralities is used to systematically label junction structures which contain pentagon-heptagon pairs. The model is also used, together with density functional theory, to study the energetics of diameter and chirality changes of thin SWNTs during catalyzed growth or regrowth. We choose zigzag and armchair SWNTs attached to a Ni(55) cluster for our case studies.

Random phase approximation with second-order screened exchange for current-carrying atomic states

The direct random phase approximation (RPA) and RPA with second-order screened exchange (SOSEX) have been implemented with complex orbitals as a basis for treating open-shell atoms. Both RPA and RPA+SOSEX are natural implicit current density functionals because the paramagnetic current density implicitly is included through the use of complex orbitals. We confirm that inclusion of the SOSEX correction improves the total energy accuracy substantially compared to RPA, especially for smaller-Z atoms. Computational complexity makes post self-consistent-field (post-SCF) evaluation of RPA-type expressions commonplace, so orbital basis origins and properties become important. Sizable differences are found in correlation energies, total atomic energies, and ionization energies for RPA-type functionals evaluated in the post-SCF fashion with orbital sets obtained from different schemes. Reference orbitals from Kohn-Sham calculations with semi-local functionals are more suitable for RPA+SOSEX to generate accurate total energies, but reference orbitals from exact exchange (non-local) yield essentially energetically degenerate open-shell atom ground states. RPA+SOSEX correlation combined with exact exchange calculated from a hybrid reference orbital set (half the exchange calculated from exact-exchange orbitals, the other half of the exchange from orbitals optimized for the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) exchange functional) gives the best overall performance. Numerical results show that the RPA-like functional with SOSEX correction can be used as a practical implicit current density functional when current effects should be included.

Accurate and balanced anisotropic Gaussian type orbital basis sets for atoms in strong magnetic fields

In high magnetic field calculations, anisotropic Gaussian type orbital (AGTO) basis functions are capable of reconciling the competing demands of the spherically symmetric Coulombic interaction and cylindrical magnetic (B field) confinement. However, the best available a priori procedure for composing highly accurate AGTO sets for atoms in a strong B field [W. Zhu et al., Phys. Rev. A 90, 022504 (2014)] yields very large basis sets. Their size is problematical for use in any calculation with unfavorable computational cost scaling. Here we provide an alternative constructive procedure. It is based upon analysis of the underlying physics of atoms in B fields that allow identification of several principles for the construction of AGTO basis sets. Aided by numerical optimization and parameter fitting, followed by fine tuning of fitting parameters, we devise formulae for generating accurate AGTO basis sets in an arbitrary B field. For the hydrogen iso-electronic sequence, a set depends on B field strength, nuclear charge, and orbital quantum numbers. For multi-electron systems, the basis set formulae also include adjustment to account for orbital occupations. Tests of the new basis sets for atoms H through C (1 ≤ Z ≤ 6) and ions Li+, Be+, and B+, in a wide B field range (0 ≤ B ≤ 2000 a.u.), show an accuracy better than a few μhartree for single-electron systems and a few hundredths to a few mHs for multi-electron atoms. The relative errors are similar for different atoms and ions in a large B field range, from a few to a couple of tens of millionths, thereby confirming rather uniform accuracy across the nuclear charge Z and B field strength values. Residual basis set errors are two to three orders of magnitude smaller than the electronic correlation energies in multi-electron atoms, a signal of the usefulness of the new AGTO basis sets in correlated wavefunction or density functional calculations for atomic and molecular systems in an external strong B field.