Complete basis set extrapolation limit for electronic structure calculations: Energetic and nonenergetic properties of HeBr and HeBr2 van der Waals dimers

The lowest (2)Sigma (+) and (2)Pi electronic states of the HeBr molecule ha ve been calculated by the ab initio coupled cluster approach in conjunction with a series of increasing size augmented correlation-consistent basis se ts of double through quintuple zeta quality. Different extrapolation formul as to the complete basis set limit have been tested by comparing estimated and actual quintuple zeta quality counterpoise corrected interaction energi es. Frozen-core approach is checked by performing calculations in which all electrons are correlated. The potential energy surfaces of the HeBr2 van d er Waals complex have been obtained from the HeBr potentials by means of th e diatomic-in-molecule approach. Finally, transport, scattering, and spectr oscopic properties of HeBr and HeBr2(B) systems derived from ab initio data for different basis sets are examined. It is shown that their convergence closely follows the convergence of corresponding potential energy surfaces. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.