The generalized Douglas–Kroll transformation

We derive the most general parametrization of the unitary matrices in the Douglas–Kroll (DK) transformation sequence for relativistic electronic structure calculations. It is applied for a detailed analysis of the generalized DK transformation up to fifth order in the external potential. While DKH2–DKH4 are independent of the parametrization of the unitary matrices, DKH5 turns out to be dependent on the third expansion coefficient of the innermost unitary transformation which is carried out after the initial free-particle Foldy–Wouthuysen transformation. The freedom in the choice of this expansion coefficient vanishes consistently if the optimum unitary transformation is sought for. Since the standard protocol…

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