Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Møller–Plesset Perturbation Theory (MP2)

 Møller–Plesset Perturbation Theory (MP2)

  • Hartree–Fock (HF) → ignores electron correlation  
  • CI → includes correlation but very expensive

So we need a method that is

Electron Correlation & Configuration Interaction (CI)

 

Electron Correlation & Configuration Interaction (CI)

Do electrons in a molecule really move independently?

Answer: No
They repel each other and try to avoid each other all the time.

What Hartree–Fock (HF) Assumes

In Hartree–Fock (SCF):

  • Each electron moves in an average field of others
  • Instant repulsion ignored
  • Only one Slater determinant is used

Slater Determinant

 

Slater Determinant

The Problem We Need to Solve

Electrons are:

·         Indistinguishable

·         Follow Pauli Exclusion Principle

·         Wavefunction must be antisymmetric

Monday, February 23, 2026

Born–Oppenheimer Approximation

 Born–Oppenheimer Approximation (BOA)

The Born-Oppenheimer Approximation is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics that simplifies the Schrödinger equation for many-body systems, like molecules, by separating nuclear and electronic motion.

Sunday, February 22, 2026

Molecular Modeling Using Molecular Mechanics

 

Molecular Modeling Using Molecular Mechanics

Molecular models can be constructed in two main ways. Either researchers use an existing commercial force-field-based software package, or they build the molecule by assembling structural fragments stored in the molecular modeling program’s database.

Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

 

Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

Quantum mechanics is the branch of chemistry and physics that describes the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and molecular scale.

Saturday, February 21, 2026

Molecular Mechanics (MM) and Force Field Methods

 

Molecular Mechanics (MM) and Force Field Methods

What is Molecular Mechanics?

Molecular Mechanics (MM) is a computational method used to study molecules by applying classical physics laws instead of quantum mechanics.  OR

Molecular mechanics is a computational method that calculates molecular structure and energy using classical mechanics and force field equations without explicitly considering electrons.

DFT Functionals

  DFT Functionals – Concept, Categories, and Detailed Study Why Functionals Are Used in DFT In Density Functional Theory , the total ele...