The Journal of Chemical Physics

Density-matrix renormalization-group algorithms with nonorthogonal orbitals and non-Hermitian operators, and applications to polyenes

Garnet Kin‐Lic Chan, Troy Van Voorhis

Published May 18, 2005• 62 citations

Abstract

We describe the theory and implementation of two extensions to the density-matrix renormalization-group (DMRG) algorithm in quantum chemistry: (i) to work with an underlying nonorthogonal one-particle basis (using a biorthogonal formulation) and (ii) to use non-Hermitian and complex operators and complex wave functions, which occur naturally in biorthogonal formulations. Using these developments, we carry out ground-state calculations on ethene, butadiene, and hexatriene, in a polarized atomic-orbital basis. The description of correlation in these systems using a localized nonorthogonal basis is improved over molecular-orbital DMRG calculations, and comparable to or better than coupled-cluster calculations, although we encountered numerical problems associated with non-Hermiticity. We believe that the non-Hermitian DMRG algorithm may further become useful in conjunction with other non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, for example, similarity-transformed coupled-cluster Hamiltonians.

DOI: 10.1063/1.1899124

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