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Title: Local Embedding and Effective Downfolding in the Auxiliary-Field Quantum Monte Carlo Method

Journal Article · · Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation
ORCiD logo [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA (United States)
  2. College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA (United States); The Flatiron Institute, New York, NY (United States)

A local embedding and effective downfolding scheme has been developed and implemented in the auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo (AFQMC) method. A local cluster in which electrons are fully correlated is defined, and the frozen orbital method is used on the remainder of the system to construct an effective Hamiltonian, which operates within the local cluster. Local embedding, which involves only the occupied sector, has previously been employed in the context of Co/graphene. Here, the methodology is extended in order to allow for effective downfolding of the virtual sector, thus allowing for significant reduction in the computational effort required for AFQMC calculations. The system size, which can be feasibly treated with AFQMC, is therefore greatly extended as only a single local cluster is explicitly correlated at the AFQMC level of theory. The approximation is controlled by the separate choice of the spatial size of the active occupied region (Ro) and of the active virtual region (Rv). In conclusion, the systematic dependence of the AFQMC energy on Ro and Rv is investigated, and it is found that relative AFQMC energies of physical and chemical interest converge rapidly to the full AFQMC treatment (i.e., using no embedding or downfolding).

Research Organization:
College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0001303
OSTI ID:
1544771
Journal Information:
Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, Vol. 15, Issue 7; ISSN 1549-9618
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 7 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Figures / Tables (14)