Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics
Vol.06 No.06(2018), Article ID:85400,5 pages
10.4236/jamp.2018.66104

Extended Koopmans’ Approximation for CASDFT Exchange-Correlation Functional

Sergey Gusarov1*, Yurii Dmitriev2

1NANO Research Center, National Research Council of Canada, Edmonton, Canada

2Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Copyright © 2018 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0).

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Received: February 28, 2018; Accepted: June 18, 2018; Published: June 21, 2018

ABSTRACT

A new density functional theory approach based on a complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) reference function in Extended Koopmans’ approximation is discussed. Recently, the number of generalizations of density functional theory based on a multiconfigurational CASSCF reference function with exact exchange (CASDFT) was introduced. It was shown by one of the authors (Dr. Gusarov) that such a theory could be formulated by introducing a special form of exchange-correlation potential. To take into account an active space and to avoid double counting of correlation energy the dependence from on-top pair density P2(r) as a new variable was introduced. Unfortunately, this requires a deep review and reparametrization of existing functional expressions which lead to additional computational difficulties. The presented approach does not require introducing additional variables (like on-top pair density, P2(r)) and is based on Extended Koopmans’ theorem (EKT) approximation for multiconfigurational wave function within CASSCF method.

Keywords:

DFT, CASSCF, CASDFT, Double Counting, Multiconfigurational

1. Introduction

The recent success of computational chemistry in different areas of bio- and material sciences owes much to the development of density functional theory (DFT) methods [1] [2] allowing to study complex molecular systems containing many hundreds of atoms. Moreover, the accuracy and applicability of DFT-based approximations are continuously improving due to the number of developments and generalizations allowing studying many different situations, like spin-polarized systems, time-dependent phenomena, charge transfer, etc. However, despite many new modifications, there are still a number of difficulties in using DFT to properly describe some complex systems. Typically such a situation arises as a result of a conflict between single-determinant, mean-field representation with the multiconfiguration nature of the strongly correlated molecular systems. To overcome these difficulties a number of solutions combining multiconfigurational wave function methods with DFT have been proposed (e.g. [3] - [8] ). The main problem with these theories is the double counting of non-dynamical correlation energy by density functional theory. One way to overcome this problem is to introduce an additional variable(s) which locally scale(s) the DFT correlation to decrease it according to some additionally introduced requirements, like the ratio of active and total densities [5] . Unfortunately, in that approach, one cannot completely distinguish the dynamic and static contributions from complete active space of a variationally optimized wave function. As an alternative to that solution, one can introduce a dependence of exchange-correlation functional from active space directly through an appropriate quantity representing the amount of correlation accounted by multiconfigurational wave function [7] [8] [9] . That way is theoretically more consistent but leads to complicated expressions for multiconfigurational DFT functionals which are difficult to parametrize. This work presents a new approach and corresponding algorithm to avoid double counting problem by the decomposition of correlation energy into perturbation theory (PT) like series without introducing additional variables. Similar attempts have been made in the past [10] , but not with considerable success due to the complex structure of PT expressions. The presented approach is based on the simplification of Green Function for given active space developed by authors before [11] [12] [13] [14] . The consistent theoretical argumentation of the developed approach is similar to [7] [9] and below we present the details of computational methodology that utilizes the Extended Koopmans’ approximation.

2. Theory

For each CASSCF active space M we can construct a Green Function in the Extended Koopmans’ approximation (GEKT,M) by solving the generalized eigenvalue problem for the Koopmans’ matrix (see [11] [12] [13] [14] ). The GEKT,M is a much simpler object in comparison with the full one, because it has a simpler pole structure [11] [12] [13] [14] . However, it reproduces exact energy (ECASSCF,M) and electron density (ρCASSCF,M) for selected active space M. Using GEKT,M and Dyson equation we can uniquely decompose ECASSCF,M into perturbation theory (PT) like series (see [11] [12] [13] [14] ):

E C A S S C F , M = E C A S S C F , M ( 0 ) + E C A S S C F , M ( 1 ) + E C A S S C F , M ( 2 ) + (1)

Of course, if M 1 M 2 M 3 F C I then E 1 E 2 E 3 E F C I due to variational character of CASSCF approach but the hope is that (and this is an approximation) starting from some reasonable Mk:

E C A S S C F , M k ( 0 ) E C A S S C F , M l ( 0 ) , M k M l (2)

If this is true, we can define the new universal auxiliary functional:

F ˜ C A S S C F [ ρ ] = lim M ˜ F C I ( E C A S S C F , M ˜ E C A S S C F , M ˜ ( 0 ) ) , (3)

and then use it to construct the new CASDFT functional:

F C A S S C F , M [ ρ ] = F ˜ C A S S C F [ ρ ] ( E C A S S C F , M E C A S S C F , M ( 0 ) ) , (4)

which depends on active space M. The expression in the parenthesis of (4) represents the part of correlation energy already accounted by CASSCF with active space M and so should be subtracted from F ˜ C A S S C F [ ρ ] to avoid double counting.

The above considerations can be summarized by the following algorithm:

1) Suppose we have the solution of CASSCF problem for reasonably small active space M which correctly represents an electronic structure. This resulted in the WF satisfying the BLB conditions, Ψ C A S S C F , M ( r ) as well as density, ρ C A S S C F , M ( r ) and, CASSCF energy, E C A S S C F , M ;

2) Based on that solution, we can solve a generalized eigenvalue problem for Koopmans’ matrix and then construct one-particle Green’s function in Extended Koopmans’ approximation G E K T , M [11] [12] ;

3) Next, we can decompose E C A S S C F , M into perturbation-like series [11] [12] E C A S S C F , M ( 0 ) + E C A S S C F , M ( 1 ) + E C A S S C F , M ( 2 ) + and construct a new EKT-CASDFT total energy: E E K T C A S D F T , M = E C A S S C F , M + F C A S S C F , M [ ρ ] which could be also represented as E C A S S C F , M ( 0 ) + F ˜ C A S S C F [ ρ ] (but F C A S S C F , M [ ρ ] should be also used to modify the CI-matrix);

4) Check for convergence if the termination conditions are satisfied and go to first step (if needed).

The functional F C A S S C F , M [ ρ ] in (4) differs from traditional exchange-correlation F x c [ ρ ] in Kohn-Sham (KS) approach [1] [2] which is based on the idea of fictitious noninteracting particles moving in effective Kohn-Sham potential. But it will be very close to F x c [ ρ ] in the case if the one-determinant Hartree-Fock method is a good approximation to wavefunction. Moreover, the suggested new functional should have a better numerical behavior because it is initially based on correct electronic structure (accounted by correct multiconfigurational CASSCF wave function for both parts of the difference in (3)) and consequently does not depend on the correctness of the one determinant approximation. In other words, E F C I ( 0 ) should be a better starting point compare to one determinant approach because the multiconfigurational CASSCF wave function has the correct electronic structure. Moreover, by construction the new functional (4) satisfies the criteria introduced in [7] [9] :

lim M ˜ F C I F C A S S C F , M ˜ [ ρ ] 0. (5)

Based on the above, we further believe that EKT-CASDFT approach will be free of some sickness of traditional DFT. Moreover, the majority of existing DFT functionals could be easily reparametrized to approximate F ˜ C A S S C F [ ρ ] because it does not depend on any additional variables (e.g. P2) which significantly simplifies its practical implementation.

3. Conclusion

The developed approach extends the DFT theory to multiconfigurational wave function which allows better accounting both static and dynamic correlation energy. Double counting of correlation energy is avoided by subtraction of the correlation energy accounted by CASSCF from universal functional F ˜ C A S S C F [ ρ ] . Details of construction and practical algorithm for implementation are presented. The practical aspects of implementation such as accuracy, convergence and computational cost are going to be studied in future works.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr. Andriy Kovalenko (NRC) and Prof. Per-Ake Malmquist (Lund University) for the insightful discussions.

Cite this paper

Gusarov, S. and Dmitriev, Y. (2018) Extended Koopmans’ Approximation for CASDFT Exchange- Correlation Functional. Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics, 6, 1242-1246. https://doi.org/10.4236/jamp.2018.66104

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