Abstract
The exchange-correlation energy functional within the random phase approximation (RPA) is recast into an explicitly orbital-dependent form. A method to evaluate the functional in finite basis sets is introduced. The basis set dependence of the RPA correlation energy is analyzed. Extrapolation using large, correlation-consistent basis sets is essential for accurate estimates of RPA correlation energies. The potential energy curve of is discussed. The RPA is found to recover most of the strong static correlation at large bond distance. Atomization energies of main-group molecules are rather uniformly underestimated by the RPA. The method performs better than generalized-gradient-type approximations (GGA’s) only for some electron-rich systems. However, the RPA functional is free of error cancellation between exchange and correlation, and behaves qualitatively correct in the high-density limit, as is demonstrated by the coupling strength decomposition of the atomization energy of The GGA short-range correlation correction to the RPA by Yan, Perdew, and Kurth [Phys. Rev. B 61, 16 430 (2000)] does not seem to improve atomization energies consistently.
- Received 29 May 2001
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.64.195120
©2001 American Physical Society