The cohesive energy of superheavy element copernicium determined from accurate relativistic coupled-cluster theory

The cohesive energy of bulk copernicium is accurately determined using the incremental method within a relativistic coupled-cluster approach. For the lowest energy structure of hexagonal close-packed (hcp) symmetry, we obtain a cohesive energy of -36.3 kJ mol^-1 (inclusion of uncertainties leads to a lower bound of -39.6 kJ mol^-1), in excellent agreement with the experimentally estimated sublimation enthalpy of -38 kJ mol^-1 [R. Eichler et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2008, 47, 3262]. At the coupled-cluster singles, doubles and perturbative triples level of theory, we find that the hcp structure is energetically quasi-degenerate with both face-centred and body-centred cubic structures. These results provide a basis for testing various density-functionals, of which the PBEsol functional yields a cohesive energy of -34.1 kJ mol^-1 in good agreement with our coupled-cluster value.

Spin–orbit effects in optical spectra of gold–silver trimers

Photodissociation spectra of cationic gold–silver trimers are analysed using relativistic electronic structure theories paying special attention to the importance of spin–orbit and charge transfer effects.

Relativistic Coupled Cluster Calculations with Variational Quantum Electrodynamics Resolve the Discrepancy between Experiment and Theory Concerning the Electron Affinity and Ionization Potential of Gold

The first ionization potential (IP) and electron affinity (EA) of the gold atom have been determined to an unprecedented accuracy using relativistic coupled cluster calculations up to the pentuple excitation level including the Breit and QED contributions. We reach meV accuracy (with respect to the experimental values) by carefully accounting for all individual contributions beyond the standard relativistic coupled cluster approach. Thus, we are able to resolve the long-standing discrepancy between experimental and theoretical IP and EA of gold.