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We report a methodology that allows the investigation of the consequences of the spin–orbit coupling by means of the QTAIM and ELF topological analyses performed on top of relativistic and multiconfigurational wave functions. In practice, it relies on the "state‐specific" natural orbitals (NOs; expressed in a Cartesian Gaussian‐type orbital basis) and their occupation numbers (ONs) for the quantum state of interest, arising from a spin–orbit configuration interaction calculation. The ground states of astatine diatomic molecules (AtX with X = AtF) and trihalide anions (IAtI−, BrAtBr−, and IAtBr−) are studied, at exact two‐component relativistic coupled cluster geometries, revealing unusual topological properties as well as a significant role of the spin–orbit coupling on these. In essence, the presented methodology can also be applied to the ground and/or excited states of any compound, with controlled validity up to including elements with active 5d, 6p, and/or 5f shells, and potential limitations starting with active 6d, 7p, and/or 6f shells bearing strong spin–orbit couplings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intermediate Hamiltonian state universal (Hilbert-space) coupled-cluster method is presented, using a formalism similar to that developed for the valence universal (Fock-space) approach. The method is expected to be applicable to many states not accessible by traditional multiroot multireference all-order size-extensive approaches. A pilot application to excited states of atomic beryllium shows good convergence and agreement with experiment and full CI values. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]