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Accurate exchange-correlation potentials and total-energy components for the helium isoelectronic series

Journal Article · · Physical Review A; (United States)
 [1];  [2]
  1. Cornell Theory Center and Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 (United States)
  2. Unite de Physico-Chemie et de Physique des Materiaux, Universite Catholique de Louvain, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium)

Starting from very accurate many-body wave functions, we have constructed essentially exact densities, exchange-correlation potentials, and components of the total energy for helium and two-electron ions. These density-functional results are compared to the corresponding quantities obtained from a variety of commonly used approximate density functionals, namely, the local-density approximation and various generalized gradient approximations, in order to test the accuracy of the approximate functionals. Although the generalized gradient approximations yield improved energies compared to the local-density approximation, the exchange and correlation potentials (especially the latter) obtained from the generalized gradient approximations are in poor agreement with the corresponding exact potentials. The large-distance asymptotic behavior of the exact exchange-correlation potential to [ital O](1/[ital r][sup 4]) is found to agree with theoretical predictions. The short-range behavior of the exchange-correlation potential is very close to quadratic. The prospects for improved generalized gradient approximations are discussed.

OSTI ID:
6836867
Journal Information:
Physical Review A; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review A; (United States) Vol. 50:5; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English