Local Correlation Approaches and Coupled Cluster Linear Response Theory

Quantum mechanical methods are becoming increasingly useful and applicable tools to complement and support experiment. Nonetheless, some barriers to further applications of theoretical models still remain. A coupled cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) calculation, a reliable ab initio method, scales approximately on the order of 𝑂(𝑁⁶), where 𝑁 is a measure of the system size. This unfortunately limits the use of such high-accuracy methods to relatively small systems.

Coupled cluster property calculations must be used in conjunction with reduced-scaling methods in order to broaden the range of applications to larger systems. In this work, we introduce some of the underlying theory behind such calculations and test the performance of several local correlation techniques for polarizabilities, optical rotations, and excited state properties. In general, when the computational cost is significantly reduced, the necessary accuracy is lost. Polarizabilities are less sensitive to the truncation schemes than optical rotations, and the excitation data is often only in agreement with the canonical result for the first few excited states.

Additionally, we present a novel application of equation-of-motion coupled cluster singles and doubles to simulated circularly polarized luminescence spectra of eight chiral ketones. Both the absorption in the ground state and emission from the excited states were examined. Extensive geometry analyses were performed, revealing that optimized structures at the density functional theory were adequate for the calculation accurate coupled cluster excitation data.