Coupled cluster theory in materials science

Abstract

In this tutorial-style review we discuss basic concepts of coupled cluster theory and recent developments that increase its computational efficiency for calculations of molecules, solids and materials in general. We will touch upon the connection between coupled cluster theory and the random-phase approximation that is widely used in the field of solid-state physics. We will discuss various approaches to improve the computational performance without compromising on accuracy. These approaches include large-scale parallel design as well as techniques that reduce the pre-factor of the computational complexity. A central part of this article discusses the convergence of calculated properties to the thermodynamic limit, which is of significant importance for reliable predictions of materials properties and constitutes an additional challenge compared to calculations of large molecules. We mention technical aspects of computer code implementations of periodic coupled cluster theories in different numerical frameworks of the one-electron orbital basis; the projector-augmented-wave formalism using a plane wave basis set and the numeric atom-centered-orbital (NAO) with resolution-of-identity. We will discuss results and the possible scope of these implementations and how they can help advance the current state of the art in electronic structure theory calculations of materials.

2 figures

References in corpus (5)

• The Ground State Correlation Energy of the Random Phase Approximation from a Ring Coupled Cluster Doubles Approach
• The Finite Size Error in Many-body Simulations with long-Ranged Interactions
• Finite-size correction in many-body electronic structure calculations
• Applying the Coupled-Cluster Ansatz to Solids and Surfaces in the Thermodynamic Limit
• Ab-initio calculations of carbon and boron nitride allotropes and their structural phase transitions using periodic coupled cluster theory