Muitos grupos de pesquisa já trabalharam com o desenvolvimento de conjuntos de bases, no intuito de obter melhores resultados em tempo e custo de cálculo computacional reduzidos. Para tal finalidade, o tamanho e a precisão são fatores a ser considerados, para que o número de funções do conjunto gerado proporcione uma boa descrição do sistema em estudo, num tempo de convergência reduzido. Esta dissertação tem como objetivo apresentar os conjuntos de bases obtidos pelo Método da Coordenada Geradora, para os átomos Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S e Cl, e avaliar a qualidade de tais conjuntos pela comparação da energia eletrônica total, em nível atômico e molecular. Foi realizada uma busca para a obtenção do melhor conjunto contraído e do melhor conjunto de funções de polarização. A qualidade do conjunto gerado foi avaliada pelo cálculo DFT-B3LYP, cujos resultados foram comparados aos valores obtidos por cálculos que utilizam funções de bases conhecidas na literatura, tais como: cc-pVXZ do Dunning e pc-n do Jensen. Pelos resultados obtidos, pode-se notar que os conjuntos de bases gerados neste trabalho, denominados MCG-3d2f, podem representar sistemas atômicos ou moleculares. Tanto os valores de energia quanto os de tempo computacional são equivalentes e, em alguns casos, melhores que os obtidos aqui com os conjuntos de bases escolhidos como referência (conjuntos de Dunning e Jensen). / Many research groups have been working with the development of basis sets in order to get the best results in reduced time and cost of computational calculation. It is known that for such purpose, size and accuracy are the primary factors to be considered, so that the number of the generated set of functions allows a good description of the system being studied in a small convergence time. This essay aims to present the basis sets obtained by the Generator Coordinate Method for the atoms Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S and Cl, as well as evaluating the quality of such clusters by comparing the electron energy at atomic and molecular levels. A research was also performed to obtain the best set contracted as well as the best set of polarization functions. The quality of the generated set was evaluated by calculating DFT-B3LYP results, which were compared to values obtained through calculation using basis functions such as cc-pVXZ of Dunning and pcn of Jensen. It can be noted, from the results obtained, that the basis sets generated in this study, named MCG-3d2f, may well represent atomic or molecular systems. Energy values and the computational time are equivalent and in some cases, even better than those obtained with the sets of bases chosen here as reference sets (Dunning and Jensen).

O método da Coordenada Geradora é uma poderosa ferramenta para gerar funções de base. Sua última versão, chamada de método da Coordenada Geradora polinomial, permite a geração de funções de base mais eficientes e precisas a um baixo custo computacional. Nesta tese, além da geração de funções de base para os átomos do primeiro período da Tabela Periódica, uma estratégia de selecionar expoentes da própria função de base para posteriormente refiná-los, com o intuito de gerar funções de polarização e difusas, é apresentada e testada em cálculos de propriedades eletrônicas de átomos e moléculas. / Ab initio electronic structure calculations for atoms and especially for molecules are mostly carried out within the finite basis set expansion method in the Hartree-Fock theory by Roothaan. The search for ever more efficient basis sets has been a constant quest and here we show a new alternative to develop efficient Gaussian-Type Functions (GTF) basis sets for atomic and molecular calculations by employing the Polynomial Generator Coordinate Hartree-Fock method.

O método da Coordenada Geradora é uma poderosa ferramenta para gerar funções de base. Sua última versão, chamada de método da Coordenada Geradora polinomial, permite a geração de funções de base mais eficientes e precisas a um baixo custo computacional. Nesta tese, além da geração de funções de base para os átomos do primeiro período da Tabela Periódica, uma estratégia de selecionar expoentes da própria função de base para posteriormente refiná-los, com o intuito de gerar funções de polarização e difusas, é apresentada e testada em cálculos de propriedades eletrônicas de átomos e moléculas. / Ab initio electronic structure calculations for atoms and especially for molecules are mostly carried out within the finite basis set expansion method in the Hartree-Fock theory by Roothaan. The search for ever more efficient basis sets has been a constant quest and here we show a new alternative to develop efficient Gaussian-Type Functions (GTF) basis sets for atomic and molecular calculations by employing the Polynomial Generator Coordinate Hartree-Fock method.

Muitos grupos de pesquisa já trabalharam com o desenvolvimento de conjuntos de bases, no intuito de obter melhores resultados em tempo e custo de cálculo computacional reduzidos. Para tal finalidade, o tamanho e a precisão são fatores a ser considerados, para que o número de funções do conjunto gerado proporcione uma boa descrição do sistema em estudo, num tempo de convergência reduzido. Esta dissertação tem como objetivo apresentar os conjuntos de bases obtidos pelo Método da Coordenada Geradora, para os átomos Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S e Cl, e avaliar a qualidade de tais conjuntos pela comparação da energia eletrônica total, em nível atômico e molecular. Foi realizada uma busca para a obtenção do melhor conjunto contraído e do melhor conjunto de funções de polarização. A qualidade do conjunto gerado foi avaliada pelo cálculo DFT-B3LYP, cujos resultados foram comparados aos valores obtidos por cálculos que utilizam funções de bases conhecidas na literatura, tais como: cc-pVXZ do Dunning e pc-n do Jensen. Pelos resultados obtidos, pode-se notar que os conjuntos de bases gerados neste trabalho, denominados MCG-3d2f, podem representar sistemas atômicos ou moleculares. Tanto os valores de energia quanto os de tempo computacional são equivalentes e, em alguns casos, melhores que os obtidos aqui com os conjuntos de bases escolhidos como referência (conjuntos de Dunning e Jensen). / Many research groups have been working with the development of basis sets in order to get the best results in reduced time and cost of computational calculation. It is known that for such purpose, size and accuracy are the primary factors to be considered, so that the number of the generated set of functions allows a good description of the system being studied in a small convergence time. This essay aims to present the basis sets obtained by the Generator Coordinate Method for the atoms Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S and Cl, as well as evaluating the quality of such clusters by comparing the electron energy at atomic and molecular levels. A research was also performed to obtain the best set contracted as well as the best set of polarization functions. The quality of the generated set was evaluated by calculating DFT-B3LYP results, which were compared to values obtained through calculation using basis functions such as cc-pVXZ of Dunning and pcn of Jensen. It can be noted, from the results obtained, that the basis sets generated in this study, named MCG-3d2f, may well represent atomic or molecular systems. Energy values and the computational time are equivalent and in some cases, even better than those obtained with the sets of bases chosen here as reference sets (Dunning and Jensen).

O conjunto de funções de base gaussianas, o p-GCHF, foi gerado para os átomos Na, Al, Si, P, S e Cl pelo Método da Coordenada Geradora (MCG) através da expansão integral polinomial para discretizar (DIP) as equações de Griffin-Hill-Wheeler-Hartree-Fock (GHW-HF). A base p-GCHF, de qualidade 7Z, foi contraída por meio do programa Contract que opera segundo os preceitos de contração de Davidson. O processo de contração resultou em 9 funções do tipos e 7 funções p para os átomos de Na e Mg e de 9 funções s e 8 funções p para os átomos de Al, Si, P, S e Cl. Expoentes de polarização foram gerados através do programa Polarization em nível CISD para os átomos de H, B, C, N, O, F, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S e Cl. Foram necessários não mais do que 2p1d expoentes de polarização para compor a base p-GCHF para o átomo de H, 2d1f para os átomos da primeira fila e 3d2f, para os átomos da segunda fila da tabela periódica. Cálculos moleculares revelaram que a base p-GCHF é competitiva em energia com as bases cc-pVQZ e cc-pV5Z, entretanto apresentando custos computacionais bem menores que as mencionadas bases de Dunning. Análises das frequências vibracionais e das geometrias de otimização dos pontos estacionários, tanto mínimos quanto de estado de transição, também apontam similaridades entre o conjunto de base p-GCHF e a base cc-pVQZ, porém com diferenças de tempos de CPU que apontam a base gerada pelo MCG como computacionalmente vantajosa. Um conjunto de base capaz de descrever um dado sistema de maneira equivalente à célebres conjuntos de base da literatura, mas trazendo consigo o benefício da economia de tempo computacional é absolutamente oportuno principalmente àqueles que têm como objeto de estudo moléculas com um número considerável de átomos. / The gaussian basis sets p-GCHF was generated for a set of atoms from Na to Cl through the Generator Coordinate Method (GCM) based on a polynomial integral expansion to discretize the Griffin-Wheeler-Hartree-Fock equations. The p-GCHF is a 7z type basis sets and was contracted through the Contract program which works based on the Davidson\'s contraction model. The contraction process provided a set of 9s7p functions for Na and Mg atoms and 9s8p functions for Al, Si, P, S e Cl atoms. Polarizations exponents were acquired through the Polarization program at CISD level of theory for H, B, C, N, O, F, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S e Cl atoms. No more than 2p1d polarization exponents were necessary to compose the p-GCHF basis set for hydrogen atom, 2d1f for the first row of the periodic table and 3d2f for the second row one. Molecular calculations show that p-GCHF works like cc-pVQZ and cc-pV5Z basis sets but with less computational cost than the Dunning\'s ones. Vibrational frequency analysis and optimization geometry to the stationary points minimum as well as transition state, revealed similarities between p-GCHF and cc-pVQZ basis sets, but again with the GCM basis sets being computationally advantageous. A basis sets capable to describe a system like the main gaussian basis sets known in the literature but demanding less computational effort is very helpful above all for those who work with massive molecular systems.

O conjunto de funções de base gaussianas, o p-GCHF, foi gerado para os átomos Na, Al, Si, P, S e Cl pelo Método da Coordenada Geradora (MCG) através da expansão integral polinomial para discretizar (DIP) as equações de Griffin-Hill-Wheeler-Hartree-Fock (GHW-HF). A base p-GCHF, de qualidade 7Z, foi contraída por meio do programa Contract que opera segundo os preceitos de contração de Davidson. O processo de contração resultou em 9 funções do tipos e 7 funções p para os átomos de Na e Mg e de 9 funções s e 8 funções p para os átomos de Al, Si, P, S e Cl. Expoentes de polarização foram gerados através do programa Polarization em nível CISD para os átomos de H, B, C, N, O, F, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S e Cl. Foram necessários não mais do que 2p1d expoentes de polarização para compor a base p-GCHF para o átomo de H, 2d1f para os átomos da primeira fila e 3d2f, para os átomos da segunda fila da tabela periódica. Cálculos moleculares revelaram que a base p-GCHF é competitiva em energia com as bases cc-pVQZ e cc-pV5Z, entretanto apresentando custos computacionais bem menores que as mencionadas bases de Dunning. Análises das frequências vibracionais e das geometrias de otimização dos pontos estacionários, tanto mínimos quanto de estado de transição, também apontam similaridades entre o conjunto de base p-GCHF e a base cc-pVQZ, porém com diferenças de tempos de CPU que apontam a base gerada pelo MCG como computacionalmente vantajosa. Um conjunto de base capaz de descrever um dado sistema de maneira equivalente à célebres conjuntos de base da literatura, mas trazendo consigo o benefício da economia de tempo computacional é absolutamente oportuno principalmente àqueles que têm como objeto de estudo moléculas com um número considerável de átomos. / The gaussian basis sets p-GCHF was generated for a set of atoms from Na to Cl through the Generator Coordinate Method (GCM) based on a polynomial integral expansion to discretize the Griffin-Wheeler-Hartree-Fock equations. The p-GCHF is a 7z type basis sets and was contracted through the Contract program which works based on the Davidson\'s contraction model. The contraction process provided a set of 9s7p functions for Na and Mg atoms and 9s8p functions for Al, Si, P, S e Cl atoms. Polarizations exponents were acquired through the Polarization program at CISD level of theory for H, B, C, N, O, F, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S e Cl atoms. No more than 2p1d polarization exponents were necessary to compose the p-GCHF basis set for hydrogen atom, 2d1f for the first row of the periodic table and 3d2f for the second row one. Molecular calculations show that p-GCHF works like cc-pVQZ and cc-pV5Z basis sets but with less computational cost than the Dunning\'s ones. Vibrational frequency analysis and optimization geometry to the stationary points minimum as well as transition state, revealed similarities between p-GCHF and cc-pVQZ basis sets, but again with the GCM basis sets being computationally advantageous. A basis sets capable to describe a system like the main gaussian basis sets known in the literature but demanding less computational effort is very helpful above all for those who work with massive molecular systems.

Dans cette thèse, nous développons un modèle collectif de la structure du noyau préservant les symétries, basé sur la théorie des fonctionnelles de la densité relativistes. Les états de référence à déformation quadrupole/octupole et à symétrie axiale sont générés en résolvant les équations de Hartree-Bogoliubov relativistes. Nous employons la fonctionnelle avec couplage ponctuel covariant DD-PC1 dans le canal particule-trou de l'interaction effective, tandis que la force d'appariement non-relativiste séparable dans l'espace des impulsions est utilisée dans le canal particule-particule. Les corrélations collectives relatives à la restauration des symétries brisées sont prises en compte en projetant les états de référence à la fois sur les bonnes valeurs du moment angulaire, de la parité et du nombre de particules. L'étape suivante consiste à combiner les états à symétries restaurées à l'aide du formalisme de la méthode de la coordonnée génératrice. Ceci nous permet d'obtenir des prédictions spectroscopiques détaillées, incluant les énergies d'excitation, les moments multipolaires électromagnétiques et les taux de transition, ainsi que les facteurs de forme élastique et inélastique. La méthode décrite est globale et peut être employée pour l'étude de la structure de nucléides très divers. Comme première application de ce modèle, nous étudierons la formation de clusters dans les noyaux légers. Le clustering nucléaire peut être considéré comme étant un phénomène de transition entre les phases liquide quantique et solide des noyaux finis. En contraste avec l'image conventionnelle du liquide quantique homogène, la localisation spatiale des particules alpha donne une image du noyau atomique similaire à une molécule. Nous réalisons en particulier une analyse complète de la collectivité quadrupole-octupole et des structures de cluster dans les isotopes du néon. Une attention particulière est accordée au cas de l'isotope ²⁰Ne, dans lequel il semble que les structures de cluster apparaissent dès l'état fondamental. Nous étudions également la structure à basse énergie de l'isotope ¹²C. Nous concentrons notre analyse sur la structure en bandes construite à partir d'états 0⁺ qui manifestent une grande variété de formes, notamment les configurations triangulaires de la bande de Hoyle ainsi que des chaînes linéaires 3-alpha dans des états de plus haute énergie. / In this thesis we develop a symmetry-conserving collective model for nuclear structure studies based on the relativistic energy density functional framework. Axially-symmetric quadrupole- and octupole-deformed reference states are generated by solving the relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov equations. In the particle-hole channel of the effective interaction we employ the covariant point-coupling DD-PC1 functional, while the non-relativistic pairing force separable in momentum space is used in the particle-particle channel. Collective correlations related to restoration of broken symmetries are accounted for by simultaneously projecting reference states on good values of angular momenta, parity, and particle numbers. In the next step, symmetry-restored states are mixed within the generator coordinate method formalism. This enables us to obtain detailed spectroscopic predictions, including excitation energies, electromagnetic multipole moments and transition rates, as well as both the elastic and inelastic form factors. The described framework is global and it can be employed in various nuclear structure studies across the entire nuclide chart. As a first application, we will study formation of clusters in light nuclei. Nuclear clustering is considered to be a transitional phenomenon between quantum-liquid and solid phases in nuclei. In contrast to the conventional homogeneous quantum-liquid picture, spatial localization of alpha-particles gives rise to a molecule-like picture of atomic nuclei. In particular, we carry out a comprehensive analysis of quadrupole-octupole collectivity and cluster structures in neon isotopes. A special attention is paid to the case of self-conjugate ²⁰Ne isotope, where cluster structures are thought to form already in the ground state. Finally, we study the low-lying structure of ¹²C isotope. We focus on the structure of bands built on 0⁺ states that are known to manifest a rich variety of shapes, including the triangular configurations of the Hoyle band and 3-alpha linear chains in higher states.

Dans ce manuscrit de thèse, nous nous intéressons à la description des noyaux atomiques composés d’un nombre impair de nucléons dans la méthode dite de la fonctionnelle énergiede la densité (EDF). Plus précisément, nous présentons et appliquons dans le cas de ces noyaux,des extensions à cette méthode : (i) la projection sur les bons nombres quantiques, (ii) le mélange de configurations à travers la méthode des coordonnées génératrices (GCM), qui permettent deprendre en compte dans nos calculs des corrélations de type « au-delà du champ moyen » entre les nucléons constituant le noyau. De telles extensions n’avaient jusqu’alors été employées, dansleurs versions les plus générales, qu’aux noyaux ayant à la fois un nombre pair de neutrons etde protons, et nous nous proposons donc de démontrer leurs applicabilités également dans le cas des noyaux impairs. Dans la première partie de ce travail, nous présentons le formalisme mathématique de la méthode EDF, en mettant tout particulièrement l’accent sur le traitement des symétries dans cette approche. Dans la seconde partie du manuscrit, nous appliquons notre modèle au cas du noyau de 25Mg et analysons les résultats sous différents angles (ex : précision numérique des résultats, convergence du mélange de configurations, comparaison avec les données expérimentales connues). Les premiers résultats obtenus dans ce travail de thèse sontencourageants et démontrent l’intérêt de notre approche pour les calculs théoriques de structure nucléaire. / In this work, we are interested in the treatment of odd-mass atomic nuclei in energydensity functional (EDF) models. More precisely, the goal of this thesis is to develop and to applyto odd-mass nuclei, the theoretical extensions of the EDF method that are: (i) the projectiontehnique, and (ii) the configuration mixing by the generator coordinate method (GCM). Thesetwo extensions are part of the so-called multi-reference energy density functional (MR-EDF)formalism and allow for taking into account, within an EDF context, the "beyond-mean-field"correlations between the nucleons forming the nucleus. Until now, the MR-EDF formalism hasbeen applied, in its full-fledged version, only to the calculation of even-even nuclei. In this thesis,we want to demonstrate the applicability of such a model also for the description of odd-massnuclei. In the first part of this thesis, we describe the theoretical formalism of the EDF models,giving particular attention to the treatment of symmetries within our approach. In the secondpart of the manuscript, we apply our model to the nucleus 25Mg and investigate different aspectsof the method (e.g. numerical accuracy, convergence of the configuration mixing, comparison toknown experimental data). The results obtained in this work are encouraging and demonstratethe potential of our approach for theoretical nuclear structure calculations.

La fission induite par neutron, découverte il y a plus de 70 ans, a de nombreuses applications, par exemple industrielles pour la production d'énergie, et intervient dans la nucléosynthèse. Cependant, sa description microscopique reste un problème ouvert. En effet, les degrés de liberté qui interviennent dans ce processus dynamique sont complexes. De plus, les noyaux fissiles ont un nombre élevé de nucléons en interaction (>200). Il s'agit donc d'un problème à N-corps quantique. Or, une résolution directe de ce dernier n'est pas possible à l'heure actuelle. Dans ce contexte, la description microscopique de la fission considérée ici est la suivante : la première étape consiste à déterminer un ensemble de configurations de champ moyen qui représentent différentes déformations du noyau, incluant ainsi explicitement les degrés de liberté collectifs qui leur sont associés. Dans la seconde étape, la dynamique est décrite dans cet espace de configurations en utilisant la méthode de la coordonnée génératrice dépendante du temps (TDGCM). L'approximation des recouvrements gaussiens (GOA) est alors utilisée. Cependant, elle introduit une erreur de modèle et limite les extensions comme par exemple la prise en compte explicite de degrés de liberté intrinsèques. Ce travail de thèse a pour objectif de décrire le processus de fission avec la TDGCM sans recourir à la GOA. Cela implique de résoudre l'équation de la dynamique en TDGCM appelée équation de Hill-Wheeler dépendante du temps (TD-HW). Les méthodes d'évaluations des matrices des recouvrements et du hamiltonien collectif sont présentées dans le cas d'une interaction de Gogny. La matrice des recouvrements représente la métrique de l'espace des configurations, et la matrice du hamiltonien collectif contient les couplages énergétiques entre les configurations. Les configurations sont exprimées dans des bases de particules deux à deux distinctes, introduisant des instabilités numériques dans les méthodes d'évaluation standard. Un formalisme adapté à ces bases est proposé permettant d'éliminer ces instabilités. Deux méthodes de résolution de TD-HW sont présentées. La première consiste à calculer l'opérateur d'évolution associé à l'équation de Hill-Wheeler dépendante du temps. Elle est adaptée à un faible nombre de configurations. La seconde utilise un schéma de discrétisation en temps permettant l'inclusion d'un plus grand nombre de configurations dans le modèle. Ce formalisme est ensuite appliqué à la description de la réaction de fission induite par neutron sur le plutonium 239, et une comparaison avec la TDGCM+GOA est effectuée. / Nuclear fission, where an atomic nucleus separates into two fragments while emitting a large amount of energy, is at the core of many applications in society (energy production) and national security (deterrence, non-proliferation). It is also a key ingredient of the mechanisms of formation of elements in the universe. Yet, nearly 80 years after its experimental discovery its theoretical description in terms of the basic constituents of the nucleus (protons and neutrons) and their interaction remains a challenge. In this thesis, we describe the fission process as follows. In a first step, we use large supercomputers to compute the deformation properties of the nucleus based on our knowledge of nuclear forces. In a second step, we simulate the time evolution of the system from its ground state up to the fragments separation with a fully quantum-mechanical approach called the time-dependent generator coordinate method (TDGCM). While results are in good qualitative agreement with experimental data, the implementation of the TDGCM so far had been greatly simplified using what is known as the Gaussian overlap approximation (GOA). We also developed the formalism and a numerical implementation of the exact TDGCM - without the GOA. This will allow the first systematic validation of that approximation and an assessment of the resulting theoretical uncertainties. The second chapter presents the description of the neutron induced fission process using the TDGCM+GOA. The third one introduces the developments carried out in this thesis allowing the description of the fission process with the TDGCM without the GOA. The last chapter shows the first results obtained with this approach.