Spatial and spin symmetry breaking in semidefinite-programming-based Hartree-Fock theory

TL;DR

This paper introduces a semidefinite programming approach to Hartree-Fock theory using reduced-density matrices, revealing new insights into symmetry breaking phenomena in molecular systems.

Contribution

It develops an RDM-based Hartree-Fock method that captures spatial and spin symmetry breaking, providing a new perspective on symmetry-related solutions.

Findings

Identifies spatial-symmetry-broken solutions in molecular systems.

Produces smooth energy curves for symmetry-broken states.

Shows equivalence to real-valued generalized Hartree-Fock when symmetries are relaxed.

Abstract

The Hartree-Fock problem was recently recast as a semidefinite optimization over the space of rank-constrained two-body reduced-density matrices (RDMs) [Phys. Rev. A 89, 010502(R) (2014)]. This formulation of the problem transfers the non-convexity of the Hartree-Fock energy functional to the rank constraint on the two-body RDM. We consider an equivalent optimization over the space of positive semidefinite one-electron RDMs (1-RDMs) that retains the non-convexity of the Hartree-Fock energy expression. The optimized 1-RDM satisfies ensemble $N$-representability conditions, and ensemble spin-state conditions may be imposed as well. The spin-state conditions place additional linear and nonlinear constraints on the 1-RDM. We apply this RDM-based approach to several molecular systems and explore its spatial (point group) and spin ($S^2$ and $S_3$) symmetry breaking properties. When imposing $S^2$ and $S_3$ symmetry but relaxing point group symmetry, the procedure often locates spatial-symmetry-broken solutions that are difficult to identify using standard algorithms. For example, the RDM-based approach yields a smooth, spatial-symmetry-broken potential energy curve for the well-known Be--H$_2$ insertion pathway. We also demonstrate numerically that, upon relaxation of $S^2$ and $S_3$ symmetry constraints, the RDM-based approach is equivalent to real-valued generalized Hartree-Fock theory.