Valence quantum Monte Carlo with a b i n i t i o effective core potentials

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Abstract
Effective‐core potentials (ECP’s) obtained from ab initio methods are implemented in molecular quantum Monte Carlo (QMC). The theory is presented, and applied to the calculation of electron affinities (EA) of Li and Na, the ionization potential (IP) of Mg, the binding energies (De) of NaH and Na2, and the potential energy curve of Na2. In all cases ECP–QMC results are found to be as accurate as previous all‐electron results. In particular, the calculated quantities (vs experimental values) are (in eV): EA(Li)=0.611±0.020 (0.620), EA(Na)=0.555±0.021 (0.546), IP(Mg)=7.637±0.026 (7.646), De (NaH) =1.954±0.073 (1.971), and De (Na2)=0.746±0.020 (0.747). In addition, the statistical precision obtained surpasses that which can be readily achieved in all‐electron QMC calculations on these systems.