Full variational molecular orbital method: Application to the positron-molecule complexes

Abstract

Optimal Gaussian-type orbital (GTO) basis sets of positron and electron in positron-molecule complexes are proposed by using the full variational treatment of molecular orbital (FVMO) method. The analytical expression for the energy gradient with respect to parameters of positronic and electronic GTO such as the orbital exponents, the orbital centers, and the linear combination of atomic orbital (LCAO) coefficients, is derived. Wave functions obtained by the FVMO method include the effect of electronic or positronic orbital relaxation explicitly and satisfy the virial and Hellmann–Feynman theorems completely. We have demonstrated the optimization of each orbital exponent in various positron-atomic and anion systems, and estimated the positron affinity (PA) as the difference between their energies. Our PA obtained with small basis set is in good agreement with the numerical Hartree–Fock result. We have calculated the OH− and [OH−; e+] species as the positron-molecular system by the FVMO method. This result shows that the positronic basis set not only becomes more diffuse but also moves toward the oxygen atom. Moreover, we have applied this method to determine both the nuclear and electronic wave functions of LiH and LiD molecules simultaneously, and obtained the isotopic effect directly. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 70: 491–501, 1998