Electron propagator method with a multiconfigurational second-order perturbation theory wave function as the initial state in the fermion operator block

Abstract

We have developed an electron propagator method using a multiconfigurational second-order perturbation theory (CASPT2) wave function as the initial state [electron propagator CASPT2 (EPCASPT2)] in the fermion operator block (block 1). In the other blocks a multiconfigurational self-consistent field wave function is the initial state. We apply our new method to directly determine the low-lying vertical ionization potentials of Be, CH2, NH2, and H2O. We compare our results with the results of the calculations using multiconfigurational spin tensor electron propagator (MCSTEP), full configuration interaction (FCI), and multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) methods with the same geometries and basis sets. The calculations are performed using complete active space (CAS) choices that are usually excellent for MCSTEP ionization potential (IP) calculations and also for CAS choices that are inadequate for MCSTEP IP calculations. We show that EPCASPT2 generally improves MCSTEP IPs compared to ΔFCI when the MCSTEP IPs are in very good to excellent agreement with ΔFCI IPs and that EPCASPT2 can effectively mimic ΔFCI even when the CAS choice for the initial state is inadequate for MCSTEP.