Static structure factor and electron correlation effects studied by inelastic x-ray scattering spectroscopy

Inelastic x-ray scattering spectra of methanol, acetonitrile, benzene, and cyclohexane have been measured with 2 eV resolution for momentum transfer q between 0.69 and 2.77 a.u. using synchrotron radiation from the photon factory (PF) storage ring. By utilizing the Bethe sum rule, the spectra were brought onto an absolute scale, so that the static structure factor S(q) has been obtained. S(q) of these molecules has also been calculated at the single reference configuration interaction (CI) with several types of basis sets. A new formula is proposed to carry out spherical averaging accurately. It is concluded that the CI singles and doubles (CISD) treatment is necessary to predict correct S(q), and that an inclusion of polarization function influences S(q) significantly at this level. An addition of f functions also improves the agreement with the experiments. S(q)’s based on CISD wave functions are in good agreement with the experimental ones, in particular at large q.