Infinite basis limits in electronic structure theory

Abstract

We have developed a database of 29 molecules for which we have estimated the complete-one-electron-basis-set limit of the zero-point-exclusive atomization energy for five levels of electronic structure theory: Hartree–Fock (HF) theory, Mo/ller–Plesset second- and fourth-order perturbation theory, coupled cluster theory based on single and double excitations (CCSD), and CCSD plus a quasiperturbative treatment of triple excitations [CCSD(T)], all at a single set of standard geometries. Convergence checks indicate that the estimates are within a few tenths of a kcal/mol of the $\mathrm{n=}\mathrm{infinity}$ limit of the $\mathrm{cc-pV}n\mathrm{Z}$ basis set sequence. This data is then used to obtain optimized power-law exponents for extrapolating to the basis-set-limit from correlation-consistent polarized valence double and triple zeta (cc-pVDZ and cc-pVTZ) basis sets. This allows one to get thermochemical accuracy comparable to polarized quadruple or quintuple zeta (cc-pVQZ or cc-pV5Z) basis sets with a cost very comparable to polarized triple zeta, which is one order of magnitude less expensive than polarized quadruple zeta and two orders of magnitude less expensive than polarized quintuple zeta.