Electron correlation

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-003715",
  "term": "Electron correlation",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The interaction between electrons in a multi-electron system that is not accounted for by mean-field theories like the Hartree-Fock method, which treats each electron as moving in an average field of all other electrons. This effect arises from the instantaneous Coulombic repulsion between electrons, causing their motions to be mutually dependent. The difference between the exact non-relativistic energy and the Hartree-Fock energy is defined as the correlation energy.",
  "subject": "Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "correlation energy"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1996, 68, 2223. 'Glossary of terms used in photochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 2238 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668122223)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/electron-correlation/"
}