Density functional generalized gradient calculations using Slater basis sets

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The most common form of density functional calculations on molecular systems used generalized gradient approximation exchange-correlation functionals (such calculations can be applied to larger systems because no exact exchange is included). The most efficient and fastest such codes use an auxiliary basis set to fit the density so that only three-center integrals need to be evaluated. The codes DGAUSS and TURBOMOL use Gaussian basis sets, whereas the long-established ADF code uses Slater basis sets. We here examine the use of Slater basis sets. Our new code evaluates all required integrals numerically by quadrature. We report calculations on the G2 molecular set, contrasting them with similar calculations using Gaussian basis sets. Our conclusion, as far as energetics and structure are concerned, is that very similar predictions may be obtained from basis sets of the same size, and at approximately the same cost.