Post-CCSD(T) contributions to total atomization energies in multireference systems.

Abstract

We examine the magnitude and the basis set convergence of post-coupled-cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations (CCSD(T)) contributions (up to CCSDTQ567) for a wide and diverse set of 21 first- and second-row molecules with up to four non-hydrogen atoms. We focus on multireference systems for which post-CCSD(T) effects are particularly pronounced. The considered molecules are BN(1∑+), C2(1∑+), O2, FO, P2, S2, ClO, N2O, NO2, O3, FNO, FO2, F2O, S2O, S3, ClNO, ClOO, Cl2O, N2C2, P4, and S4. This set spans the gamut from molecules dominated by moderate nondynamical correlation (e.g., FO, ClO, NO2, S2O, N2C2, and P4) to systems dominated by strong nondynamical correlation (e.g., BN, C2, FO2, O3, ClOO, and S4). We examine the basis set convergence of the CCSDT, CCSDT(Q), CCSDTQ, CCSDTQ(5), CCSDTQ5, CCSDTQ5(6), CCSDTQ56, CCSDTQ56(7), and CCSDTQ567 methods. The largest basis sets employed in each category are cc-pV6Z (CCSDT(Q)), cc-pV5Z (CCSDTQ), cc-pVTZ (CCSDTQ5(6)), and cc-pVDZ (CCSDTQ567). Apart from examining the basis-set convergence of post-CCSD(T) contributions near the one-particle basis-set limit, this work explores cost-effective approaches for obtaining these contributions from fairly small basis sets. We consider both effective basis-set extrapolations and scaling factors. An important finding is that extrapolating the perturbative connected quadruples, (Q), from the cc-pVDZ(4s3p1d) and cc-pVTZ basis sets yields near basis-set limit results and represents a significant improvement relative to cc-pV{D,T}Z extrapolation at no additional computational cost (where cc-pVDZ(4s3p1d) is an extended version of the cc-pVDZ basis set). Combining the (Q)/cc-pV{D(4s3p1d),T}Z extrapolations with the fully iterative connected quadruples, Q-(Q), contribution calculated with the cc-pVDZ (or even the cc-pVDZ(3s2p)) basis set is a cost-effective way for obtaining the connected quadruples component close to the basis-set limit (where cc-pVDZ(3s2p) is a truncated version of the cc-pVDZ basis set). In addition, we show that the (5)/cc-pVDZ(3s2p) and (6)/cc-pVDZ(3s2p) components provide reasonable approximations for the connected quintuple and sextuple components close to the basis-set limit, respectively.