DC24: A new density coherence functional for multiconfiguration density-coherence functional theory

J Comput Chem. 2024 Nov 8. doi: 10.1002/jcc.27522. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

In this study, we explored several alternative functional forms to construct more accurate and more physical density coherence (DC) functionals for multiconfiguration density-coherence functional theory. Each functional is parameterized against the same database as used in our previous work. The best DC functional, which is called DC24, has a more physical interpretation, and-as a side benefit-it also has a mean unsigned error of 1.73 kcal/mol, which is a 9% improvement as compared to the previous functional. The article also contains a new definition of the unpaired electron density, which may be useful in other contexts as well.

Keywords: density coherence; density functional development; density matrix; multiconfiguration nonclassical‐energy functional theory; unpaired density.