title: Effective electron displacements: a tool for time-dependent density functional theory computational spectroscopy.
abstract: We extend our previous definition of the metric Δr for electronic excitations in the framework of the time-dependent density functional theory [C. A. Guido, P. Cortona, B. Mennucci, and C. Adamo, J. Chem. Theory Comput. 9, 3118 (2013)], by including a measure of the difference of electronic position variances in passing from occupied to virtual orbitals. This new definition, called Γ, permits applications in those situations where the Δr-index is not helpful: transitions in centrosymmetric systems and Rydberg excitations. The Γ-metric is then extended by using the Natural Transition Orbitals, thus providing an intuitive picture of how locally the electron density changes during the electronic transitions. Furthermore, the Γ values give insight about the functional performances in reproducing different type of transitions, and allow one to define a "confidence radius" for GGA and hybrid functionals.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Structures, Propriétés et Modélisation des Solides (SPMS), CNRS UMR 8580, École Centrale Paris, Grande Voie des Vignes, F-92295 Châtenay-Malabry, France.
authors.forename: Ciro A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Guido
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Structures, Propriétés et Modélisation des Solides (SPMS), CNRS UMR 8580, École Centrale Paris, Grande Voie des Vignes, F-92295 Châtenay-Malabry, France.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cortona
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Électrochimie, Chimie des Interfaces et Modélisation pour l'Energie, CNRS UMR-7575, Chimie ParisTech, 11 rue P. et M. Curie, F-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adamo