arXiv subjects

Sara Angelico

Publications and source records attributed to Sara Angelico.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Spectroscopic photorelaxation signatures in pyrazine from nonadiabatic dynamics simulations with coupled cluster theory

Despite extensive theoretical and experimental efforts, the mechanisms underlying the ultrafast relaxation of pyrazine after photoexcitation remain challenging to disentangle. Recently, theoretical investigations have been converging towards a three-state mechanism, with an ultrafast decay of the bright ${}^{1}B_{2u}$ state followed by beats in the populations of the low-lying ${}^{1}B_{3u}$ and ${}^{1}A_u$ states. However, a clear agreement between the experimental results and the corresponding theoretical predictions remains elusive. Here, we present a high-level simulation of the ultrafast excited states dynamics of pyrazine using coupled cluster theory with single and double excitations and ab initio multiple spawning, together with predictions of the time-resolved photoelectron spectrum and X-ray absorption spectra at the nitrogen and carbon edges. This is made possible by using a newly developed multistate implementation of similarity constrained coupled cluster theory. We find quantitative agreement with the experimental signature of the ${}^{1}B_{2u}$ decay in the photoelectron spectrum, and qualitative agreement with the available experimental X-ray absorption spectra. Moreover, we detail spectroscopic signatures that should be verifiable in experiments with sufficient resolution in the time and frequency domains. Compared to previous theoretical studies, we provide further detailed insight into the interplay of the states involved in the photorelaxation.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2025

eT 2.0: An efficient open-source molecular electronic structure program

The eT program is an open-source electronic structure program with emphasis on performance and modularity. As its name suggests, the program features extensive coupled cluster capabilities, performing well compared to other electronic structure programs, and, in some cases, outperforming commercial alternatives. However, eT is more than a coupled cluster program; other models based on wave function theory (such as full and reduced space configuration interaction and a variety of self-consistent field models) and density functional theory are supported. The second major release of the program, eT 2.0, has specialized functionality for strong light-matter coupling conditions. In addition, it includes a wide range of optimizations and algorithmic improvements, as well as new capabilities for exploring potential energy surfaces and for modeling experiments in the UV and X-ray regimes. Molecular gradients are now available at the coupled cluster level, and high-accuracy spectroscopic simulations are available at reduced computational cost within the multilevel coupled cluster and multiscale frameworks. We present the modifications to the program since its first major release, eT 1.0, highlighting some notable new features and demonstrating the performance of the new version relative to the first release and to other established electronic structure programs.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2025

Similarity Constrained CC2 for Efficient Coupled Cluster Nonadiabatic Dynamics

Despite their high accuracy, standard coupled cluster models cannot be used for nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations because they yield unphysical complex excitation energies at conical intersections between same-symmetry excited states. On the other hand, similarity constrained coupled cluster theory has enabled the application of coupled cluster theory in such dynamics simulations. Here, we present a similarity constrained perturbative doubles (SCC2) model with same-symmetry excited-state conical intersections that exhibit correct topography, topology, and real excitation energies. This is achieved while retaining the favorable computational scaling of the standard CC2 model. We illustrate the model for conical intersections in hypofluorous acid and thymine, and compare its performance with other methods. The results demonstrate that conical intersections between excited states can be described correctly and efficiently at the SCC2 level. We therefore expect that the SCC2 model will enable coupled cluster nonadiabatic dynamics simulations for large molecular systems.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2024

Generalized coupled cluster theory for ground and excited state intersections

Coupled cluster theory in the standard formulation is unable to correctly describe conical intersections among states of the same symmetry. This limitation has restricted the practical application of an otherwise highly accurate electronic structure model, particularly in nonadiabatic dynamics. Recently, the intersection problem among the excited states was fully characterized and resolved. However, intersections with the ground state remain an open challenge, and addressing this problem is our objective here. We present a generalized coupled cluster framework that correctly accounts for the geometric phase effect and avoids bifurcations of the solutions to the ground state equations. Several applications are presented that demonstrate the correct description of ground state conical intersections. We also propose how the framework can be used for other electronic-structure methods.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2024

Determining minimum energy conical intersections by enveloping the seam: exploring ground and excited state intersections in coupled cluster theory

Minimum energy conical intersections can be used to rationalize photochemical processes. In this Letter, we examine an algorithm to locate these structures that does not require the evaluation of nonadiabatic coupling vectors, showing that it minimizes the energy on hypersurfaces that envelop the intersection seam. By constraining the states to be separated by a small non-zero energy difference, the algorithm ensures that numerical artifacts and convergence problems of coupled cluster theory at conical intersections are not encountered during the optimization. In this way, we demonstrate for various systems that minimum energy conical intersections with the ground state are well described by the coupled cluster singles and doubles model, suggesting that coupled cluster theory may in some cases provide a good description of relaxation to the ground state in nonadiabatic dynamics simulations.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2024

Analytical evaluation of ground state gradients in quantum electrodynamics coupled cluster theory

Analytical gradients of potential energy surfaces play a central role in quantum chemistry, allowing for molecular geometry optimizations and molecular dynamics simulations. In strong coupling conditions, potential energy surfaces can account for strong interactions between matter and the quantized electromagnetic field. In this paper, we derive expressions for the ground state analytical gradients in quantum electrodynamics coupled cluster theory. We also present a Cholesky-based implementation for the coupled cluster singles and doubles model. We report timings to show the performance of the implementation and present optimized geometries to highlight cavity-induced molecular orientation effects in strong coupling conditions.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2024

Coupled cluster theory for nonadiabatic dynamics: nuclear gradients and nonadiabatic couplings in similarity constrained coupled cluster theory

Coupled cluster theory is one of the most accurate electronic structure methods for predicting ground and excited state chemistry. However, the presence of numerical artifacts at electronic degeneracies, such as complex energies, has made it difficult to apply it in nonadiabatic dynamics simulations. While it has already been shown that such numerical artifacts can be fully removed by using similarity constrained coupled cluster (SCC) theory [J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2017, 8, 19, 4801-4807], simulating dynamics requires efficient implementations of gradients and nonadiabatic couplings. Here, we present an implementation of nuclear gradients and nonadiabatic derivative couplings at the similarity constrained coupled cluster singles and doubles (SCCSD) level of theory, thereby making possible nonadiabatic dynamics simulations using a coupled cluster theory that provides a correct description of conical intersections between excited states. We present a few numerical examples that show good agreement with literature values and discuss some limitations of the method.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2024

Unexpected hydrogen dissociation in thymine: predictions from a novel coupled cluster theory

The fate of thymine upon excitation by ultraviolet radiation has been the subject of intense debate over the past three decades. Today, it is widely believed that its ultrafast excited state decay stems from a radiationless transition from the bright $ππ^*$ state to a dark $nπ^*$ state. However, conflicting theoretical predictions have made the experimental data difficult to interpret. Here we simulate the ultrafast dynamics in thymine at the highest level of theory to date, performing wavepacket dynamics with a new coupled cluster method. Our simulation confirms an ultrafast $ππ^*$ to $nπ^*$ transition ($τ = 41 \pm 14$ fs). Furthermore, the predicted oxygen-edge X-ray absorption spectra agree quantitatively with the experimental results. Our simulation also predicts an as-yet uncharacterized photochemical pathway: a $πσ^*$ channel that leads to hydrogen dissociation at one of the two N-H bonds in thymine. Similar behavior has been identified in other heteroaromatic compounds, including adenine, and several authors have speculated that a similar pathway may exist in thymine. However, this was never confirmed theoretically or experimentally. This prediction calls for renewed efforts to experimentally identify or exclude the presence of this channel.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2023

Coupled cluster cavity Born-Oppenheimer approximation for electronic strong coupling

Chemical and photochemical reactivity, as well as supramolecular organization and several other molecular properties, can be modified by strong interactions between light and matter. Theoretical studies of these phenomena require the separation of the Schrödinger equation into different degrees of freedom as in the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. In this paper, we analyze the electron-photon Hamiltonian within the cavity Born-Oppenheimer approximation (CBOA), where the electronic problem is solved for fixed nuclear positions and photonic parameters. Specifically, we focus on intermolecular interactions in representative dimer complexes. The CBOA potential energy surfaces are compared with those obtained using a polaritonic approach, where the photonic and electronic degrees of freedom are treated at the same level. This allows us to assess the role of electron-photon correlation and the accuracy of CBOA.

physics.chem-ph↗