Density Matrix Renormalization Group Pair-Density Functional Theory (DMRG-PDFT): Singlet-Triplet Gaps in Polyacenes and Polyacetylenes

The density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) is a powerful method to treat static correlation. Here we present an inexpensive way to add additional dynamic correlation energy to a DMRG self-consistent field (DMRG) wave function using pair-density functional theory (PDFT). We applied this new approach, called DMRG-PDFT, to study singlet-triplet gaps in polyacenes and polyacetylenes that require active spaces larger than the feasibility limit of the conventional complete active-space self-consistent field (CASSCF) method. The results match reasonably well the most reliable literature values and have only a moderate dependence on the compression of the initial DMRG wave function. Furthermore, DMRG-PDFT is significantly less expensive than other commonly applied ways of adding additional correlation to DMRG, such as DMRG followed by multireference perturbation theory or multireference configuration interaction.