"Best" iterative coupled-cluster triples model: More evidence for 3CC

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the 3CC coupled-cluster method, demonstrating its superior accuracy over CCSDT and CCSD(T) for thermochemistry calculations, with a new implementation enabling broader applicability.

Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive assessment of the 3CC method's accuracy and introduces a new automated implementation for closed- and open-shell systems.

Findings

3CC yields more accurate energies than CCSDT and CCSD(T) with a double-zeta basis.

3CC significantly reduces errors in atomization energies compared to other methods.

The new implementation broadens the applicability of the 3CC method.

Abstract

To follow up on the unexpectedly-good performance of several coupled-cluster models with approximate inclusion of 3-body clusters [J. Chem. Phys. 151, 064102 (2019)] we performed a more complete assessment of the 3CC method [J. Chem. Phys. 125, 204105 (2006)] for accurate computational thermochemistry in the standard HEAT framework. New spin-integrated implementation of the 3CC method applicable to closed- and open-shell systems utilizes a new automated toolchain for derivation, optimization, and evaluation of operator algebra in many-body electronic structure. We found that with a double-zeta basis set the 3CC correlation energies and their atomization energy contributions are almost always more accurate (with respect to the CCSDTQ reference) than the CCSDT model as well as the standard CCSD(T) model. The mean absolute errors in cc-pVDZ {3CC, CCSDT, and CCSD(T)} electronic (per valence electron) and atomization energies relative to the CCSDTQ reference for the HEAT dataset [J. Chem. Phys. 121, 11599 (2004)], were {24, 70, 122} $\mu E_h/e$ and {0.46, 2.00, 2.58} kJ/mol, respectively. The mean absolute errors in the complete-basis-set limit {3CC, CCSDT, and CCSD(T)} atomization energies relative to the HEAT model reference, were {0.52, 2.00, and 1.07} kJ/mol, The significant and systematic reduction of the error by the 3CC method and its lower cost than CCSDT suggests it as a viable candidate for post-CCSD(T) thermochemistry applications, as well as the preferred alternative to CCSDT in general.