Cluster expansion of the wavefunction. Symmetry-adapted-cluster expansion, its variational determination, and extension of open-shell orbital theory

Abstract

The symmetry‐adapted‐cluster (SAC) expansion of an exact wavefunction is given. It is constructed from the generators of the symmetry‐adapted excited configurations having the symmetry under consideration, and includes their higher‐order effect and self‐consistency effect. It is different from the conventional cluster expansions in several important points, and is suitable for applications to open‐shell systems as well as closed‐shell systems. The variational equation for the SAC wavefunction has a form similar to the generalized Brillouin theorem in accordance with the inclusion of the higher‐order effect and the self‐consistency effect. We have expressed some existing open‐shell orbital theories equivalently in the conventional cluster expansion formulas, and on this basis, we have given the pseudo‐orbital theory which is an extension of open‐shell orbital theory in the SAC expansion formula.