Molecular "response" properties are underlying virtually all spectroscopic and optical properties. They can be computed from first principles in form of derivatives of the energy (static properties) or the quasi-energy (dynamic properties), with suitable chosen derivative parameters such as electric and magnetic field amplitudes, nuclear spin magnetic moments, geometrical distortions, and others. We will briefly discuss the calculation of electric and magnetic response properties of molecules in the framework of density-functional theory (DFT), and present selected applications to organic molecules and transition metal complexes. Emphasis will be placed on computational studies employing recently developed modules in the open-source NWChem package for NMR and EPR calculations, and for calculations of electronic optical activity. An analysis of calculated molecular properties in terms of local atomic or orbital contributions may be used for the design of new materials or to help identifying shortcomings in approximate theoretical methods. Further, we will consider some specific shortcomings of DFT in molecular property calculations. An example is the electric field gradient at copper in the CuCl molecule. Most density functionals do not even predict the correct sign. Another example is the coupling of excitations in molecules with spatially separated chromophores.
Université Paul Sabatier - Bat. 3R1b4 - 118 route de Narbonne 31062 Toulouse Cedex 09, France