CASSCF linear response calculations for large open-shell molecules

Abstract

The complete active space self-consistent-field (CASSCF) linear response method for the simulation of ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis) absorption and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra of large open-shell molecules is presented. By using a one-index transformed Hamiltonian, the computation of the most time-consuming intermediates can be pursued in an integral-direct fashion, which allows us to employ the efficient resolution-of-the-identity and overlap-fitted chain-of-spheres approximation. For the iterative diagonalization, pairs of Hermitian and anti-Hermitian trial vectors are used which facilitate, on the one hand, an efficient solution of the pair-structured generalized eigenvalue problem in the reduced space, and on the other hand, make the full multiconfigurational random phase approximation as efficient as the corresponding Tamm-Dancoff approximation. Electronic transitions are analyzed and characterized in the particle-hole picture by natural transition orbitals that are introduced for CASSCF linear response theory. For a small organic radical, we can show that the accuracy of simulated UV/Vis absorption spectra with the CASSCF linear response approach is significantly improved compared to the popular state-averaged CASSCF method. To demonstrate the efficiency of the implementation, the 50 lowest roots of a large Ni triazole complex with 231 atoms are computed for the simulated UV/Vis and ECD spectra.