Per-Olov Löwdin

Bio: Per-Olov Löwdin is an academic researcher from University of Florida. The author has contributed to research in topics: Eigenvalues and eigenvectors & Hamiltonian (quantum mechanics). The author has an hindex of 43, co-authored 112 publications receiving 14783 citations. Previous affiliations of Per-Olov Löwdin include Massachusetts Institute of Technology & Duke University.

Quantum Theory of Many-Particle Systems. I. Physical Interpretations by Means of Density Matrices, Natural Spin-Orbitals, and Convergence Problems in the Method of Configurational Interaction

Abstract: In order to calculate the average value of a physical quantity containing also many-particle interactions in a system of $N$ antisymmetric particles, a set of generalized density matrices are defined. In order to permit the investigation of the same physical situation in two complementary spaces, the Hermitean density matrix of order $k$ has two sets of indices of each $k$ variables, and it is further antisymmetric in each set of these indices.Every normalizable antisymmetric wave function may be expanded in a series of determinants of order $N$ over all ordered configurations formed from a basic complete set of one-particle functions ${\ensuremath{\psi}}_{k}$, which gives a representation of the wave function and its density matrices also in the discrete $k$-space. The coefficients in an expansion of an eigenfunction to a particular operator may be determined by the variation principle, leading to the ordinary secular equation of the method of configurational interaction. It is shown that the first-order density matrix may be brought to diagonal form, which defines the "natural spin-orbitals" associated with the system. The situation is then partly characterized by the corresponding occupation numbers, which are shown to lie between 0 and 1 and to assume the value 1, only if the corresponding spin-orbital occurs in all configurations necessary for describing the situation. If the system has exactly $N$ spin-orbitals which are fully occupied, the total wave function may be reduced to a single Slater determinant. However, due to the mutual interaction between the particles, this limiting case is never physically realized, but the introduction of natural spin-orbitals leads then instead to a configurational expansion of most rapid convergence.In case the basic set is of finite order $M$, the best choice of this set is determined by a form of extended Hartree-Fock equations. It is shown that, in this case, the natural spin-orbitals approximately fulfill some equations previously proposed by Slater.

On the Non‐Orthogonality Problem Connected with the Use of Atomic Wave Functions in the Theory of Molecules and Crystals

Abstract: The treatment of molecules and crystals by the Heitler‐London method or by the collective electron model can be based on the atomic orbitals φμ of the system. These orbitals are in general overlapping, and the corresponding overlap integrals Sμν, given by (1), have almost universally been neglected in the literature as causing undesirable complications. Here we will take these overlap integrals into consideration and show that they, instead of being negligible, are of essential importance in molecules and in crystals. The problem is simply solved by considering the orthonormalized functions [open phi]μ, given by (21), as the real atomic orbitals. The solution is worked out in detail for (I) the molecular orbital method of treating molecules, (II) the Bloch orbital method of treating crystals, and (III) the Heitler‐London method of treating both these systems in some simple spin cases. Some numerical applications are given for ionic crystals, showing that the overlap effects are responsible for all the rep...

Quantum Theory of Many-Particle Systems. III. Extension of the Hartree-Fock Scheme to Include Degenerate Systems and Correlation Effects

Abstract: In treating a system of $N$ antisymmetric particles, it is shown that, if the total Hamiltonian ${\mathcal{H}}_{\mathrm{op}}$ is degenerate, the eigenstates of the operator used for classifying the corresponding degenerate states may be selected by means of a "projection operator" $\mathcal{O}$. If the total wave function is approximated by such a projection of a single determinant, the description of the system may be reduced to the ordinary Hartree-Fock scheme treating this determinant, if the original Hamiltonian is replaced by a complete Hamiltonian ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{\mathrm{op}}={\mathcal{O}}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}{\mathcal{H}}_{\mathrm{op}}\mathcal{O}$ containing also many-particle interactions. This approach corresponds to a "fixed" configurational interaction, but the scheme has preserved the physical simplicity and visuality of the Hartree-Fock approximation. The idea of "doubly filled" orbitals is abandoned, and the orbitals associated with different spins will automatically try to arrange themselves in such a way that particles having antiparallel spins will tend to avoid each other due to their mutual repulsion.

A Note on the Quantum‐Mechanical Perturbation Theory

Abstract: The solution of the quantum‐mechanical eigenvalue problem is discussed for cases when a series of approximate eigenfunctions is known. If these ``unperturbed'' states are divided into two classes, a perturbation formula is derived giving the influence of one class of states on the other in the final solution. The formula contains as special cases: (i) the Schrodinger‐Brillouin formula for the eigenvalue of a nondegenerate state, (ii) a new simple formula for treating a class of degenerate states, and (iii) the splitting of the secular equation in cases where the system naturally consists of two independent parts in mutual interaction.

On the Nonorthogonality Problem

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses three orthonormalization procedures, such as successive orthonormalization, symmetric orthonormalization, and canonical orthonormalization The simplest way of orthonormalizing a finite set of functions is by the classical Schmidt procedure, in which each member of the set in order is orthogonalized against all the previous members and subsequently normalized In solid-state theory, one could probably construct orthonormal combinations of the atomic orbitals of the system, which would still preserve the natural symmetry In such an approach, it would be necessary to treat the given functions ϕ = {ϕ 1 , ϕ 2 …, ϕ n } simultaneously, on an equivalent basis instead of successively as in the Schmidt procedure In molecular and solid-state theory, there are cases when also the symmetric orthonormalization procedure will break down, depending on the fact that, even if the basis ϕ = {ϕ 1 , ϕ 2 …, ϕ n } is linearly independent from the mathematical point of view, it may be approximately linearly dependent from the computational point of view This phenomenon causes a great many complications and may lead to very misleading results, since the associated secular equations may be almost identically vanishing Unfortunately, it seems as if many of the conventionally used basic systems are strongly affected by approximate linear dependencies In order to systematize this problem, it is convenient to study the metric matrix

General atomic and molecular electronic structure system

Abstract: A description of the ab initio quantum chemistry package GAMESS is presented. Chemical systems containing atoms through radon can be treated with wave functions ranging from the simplest closed-shell case up to a general MCSCF case, permitting calculations at the necessary level of sophistication. Emphasis is given to novel features of the program. The parallelization strategy used in the RHF, ROHF, UHF, and GVB sections of the program is described, and detailed speecup results are given. Parallel calculations can be run on ordinary workstations as well as dedicated parallel machines. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Multiwfn: a multifunctional wavefunction analyzer.

Abstract: Multiwfn is a multifunctional program for wavefunction analysis. Its main functions are: (1) Calculating and visualizing real space function, such as electrostatic potential and electron localization function at point, in a line, in a plane or in a spatial scope. (2) Population analysis. (3) Bond order analysis. (4) Orbital composition analysis. (5) Plot density-of-states and spectrum. (6) Topology analysis for electron density. Some other useful utilities involved in quantum chemistry studies are also provided. The built-in graph module enables the results of wavefunction analysis to be plotted directly or exported to high-quality graphic file. The program interface is very user-friendly and suitable for both research and teaching purpose. The code of Multiwfn is substantially optimized and parallelized. Its efficiency is demonstrated to be significantly higher than related programs with the same functions. Five practical examples involving a wide variety of systems and analysis methods are given to illustrate the usefulness of Multiwfn. The program is free of charge and open-source. Its precompiled file and source codes are available from http://multiwfn.codeplex.com.

Quantum mechanical continuum solvation models.

Abstract: 6.2.2. Definition of Effective Properties 3064 6.3. Response Properties to Magnetic Fields 3066 6.3.1. Nuclear Shielding 3066 6.3.2. Indirect Spin−Spin Coupling 3067 6.3.3. EPR Parameters 3068 6.4. Properties of Chiral Systems 3069 6.4.1. Electronic Circular Dichroism (ECD) 3069 6.4.2. Optical Rotation (OR) 3069 6.4.3. VCD and VROA 3070 7. Continuum and Discrete Models 3071 7.1. Continuum Methods within MD and MC Simulations 3072

Universal solvation model based on solute electron density and on a continuum model of the solvent defined by the bulk dielectric constant and atomic surface tensions.

Abstract: We present a new continuum solvation model based on the quantum mechanical charge density of a solute molecule interacting with a continuum description of the solvent. The model is called SMD, where the “D” stands for “density” to denote that the full solute electron density is used without defining partial atomic charges. “Continuum” denotes that the solvent is not represented explicitly but rather as a dielectric medium with surface tension at the solute−solvent boundary. SMD is a universal solvation model, where “universal” denotes its applicability to any charged or uncharged solute in any solvent or liquid medium for which a few key descriptors are known (in particular, dielectric constant, refractive index, bulk surface tension, and acidity and basicity parameters). The model separates the observable solvation free energy into two main components. The first component is the bulk electrostatic contribution arising from a self-consistent reaction field treatment that involves the solution of the nonho...

Natural population analysis

Abstract: A method of ‘‘natural population analysis’’ has been developed to calculate atomic charges and orbital populations of molecular wave functions in general atomic orbital basis sets. The natural analysis is an alternative to conventional Mulliken population analysis, and seems to exhibit improved numerical stability and to better describe the electron distribution in compounds of high ionic character, such as those containing metal atoms. We calculated ab initio SCF‐MO wave functions for compounds of type CH3X and LiX (X=F, OH, NH2, CH3, BH2, BeH, Li, H) in a variety of basis sets to illustrate the generality of the method, and to compare the natural populations with results of Mulliken analysis, density integration, and empirical measures of ionic character. Natural populations are found to give a satisfactory description of these molecules, providing a unified treatment of covalent and extreme ionic limits at modest computational cost.