A second-order, quadratically convergent multiconfigurational self-consistent field polarizable continuum model for equilibrium and nonequilibrium solvation

We present a new implementation of the polarizable continuum model (PCM) at the multiconfigurational self-consistent field (MCSCF) level. This new MCSCF-PCM implementation is based on a second-order algorithm for the optimization of the wave function of the solvated molecule. The robust convergence properties of this approach allows for fast convergence of the PCM-MCSCF wave function for large MCSCF expansions as well as for excited states of solvated molecules. Our implementation also enables us to treat nonequilibrium solvation—that is, to treat excited molecular states generated in a fast excitation process such that not all degrees of freedom of the solvent have relaxed. To demonstrate the applicability of the approach we present calculations of solvation effects on 1,3-dipolar systems and on the ground and excited states of methylenecyclopropene.