Seniority-zero states are mean-field wavefunctions

M Marco Martínez González (Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, McMaster University 1 , Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1,) D Daniel F. Calero-Osorio (Department of Chemistry, McMaster University , Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1,) M Michelle Richer (Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, McMaster University 1 , Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1,) C Cassandra Masschelein (Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, McMaster University 1 , Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1,) S Shuoyang Wang (Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, McMaster University 1 , Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1,) P Paul A. Johnson (Département de Chimie, Université Laval 1 , Québec, Québec G1V 0A6,) S Stijn De Baerdemacker (Department of Chemistry, University of New Brunswick 3 , Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3,) P Paul W. Ayers (Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University 1 , Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8,)

Abstract

We use symbolic computation, numerical experiments, and mathematical arguments to establish that every seniority-zero state can be expressed as a (number-symmetry-broken) antisymmetric product of interacting geminals (APIG). Moreover, for bosons, the configuration interaction coefficients are exactly parameterized by matrix permanents. This establishes that bosonic wavefunctions can be exactly described by a mean field, specifically the (number-symmetry-broken) symmetric product of boson orbitals. While exact parameterization is extremely costly, we present numerical evidence showing that the APIG wavefunction approaches the true wavefunction exponentially quickly as the number of interacting geminals increases.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 163, Issue 14
Published October 14, 2025
ISSN 0021-9606
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

The Journal of Chemical Physics

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0021-9606 Physical Sciences

Authors (8)

M

Marco Martínez González

Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, McMaster University 1 , Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1,

D

Daniel F. Calero-Osorio

Department of Chemistry, McMaster University , Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1,

M

Michelle Richer

Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, McMaster University 1 , Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1,

C

Cassandra Masschelein

Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, McMaster University 1 , Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1,

S

Shuoyang Wang

Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, McMaster University 1 , Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1,

P

Paul A. Johnson

Département de Chimie, Université Laval 1 , Québec, Québec G1V 0A6,

S

Stijn De Baerdemacker

Department of Chemistry, University of New Brunswick 3 , Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3,

P

Paul W. Ayers

Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University 1 , Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8,