Newton optimization for the Multiconfiguration Self Consistent Field method at the basis set limit: closed-shell two-electron systems

Abstract: The multiconfiguration self-consistent-field (MCSCF) method is revisited with the specific focus on the two electron systems for simplicity. A wave function is represented as a linear combination of Slater determinants. Both orbitals and coefficients of this configuration interaction expansion are optimized following the variational principle making use of the Newton optimization technique. It reduces the MCSCF problem to solving a particular differential Newton system, which can be discretized with multiwavelets and solved iteratively.