Direct inversion in the iterative subspace (DIIS) optimization of open-shell, excited-state, and small multiconfiguration SCF wave functions

The direct inversion in the iterative subspace (DIIS) method is applied to several simple SCF wave functions in an effective Fock matrix formulation. The following cases are treated: high-spin-restricted open shell, open-shell singlet, and two-configuration wave functions. Open-shell singlet states are described by a three-determinant 2×2 CAS expansion which is equivalent to Davidson's nonorthogonal SCF method in the case of the first open-shell singlet. Very sharp convergence is usually obtained in less than 20 cycles. The method is applicable to slowly convergent or even inherently divergent cases, and able to enforce convergence to excited states not the lowest of their symmetry. For these simple wave functions, the present first order method is asymptotically more efficient than second-order methods. Examples are presented for H₂O, H₂O₂, C₂H₄, F₂, several states of NO₂, C₂H₅, formaldehyde, and ketene.