Consistent third-order one-particle transition and excited-state properties within the algebraic-diagrammatic construction scheme for the polarization propagator.

The intermediate state representation (ISR) formalism allows for the straightforward calculation of excited state properties and state-to-state transition moments using the algebraic-diagrammatic construction (ADC) scheme for the polarization propagator. Here, the derivation and implementation of the ISR in third-order perturbation theory for the one-particle operator are presented, enabling, for the first time, the calculation of consistent third-order ADC [ADC(3)] properties. The accuracy of ADC(3) properties is evaluated with respect to high-level reference data and compared to the previously used ADC(2) and ADC(3/2) schemes. Oscillator strengths and excited state dipole moments are computed, and typical response properties are considered: dipole polarizabilities, first-order hyperpolarizabilities, and two-photon absorption strengths. The consistent third-order treatment of the ISR leads to an accuracy similar to that of the mixed-order ADC(3/2) method; the individual performance, however, depends on the property and molecule under investigation. ADC(3) produces slightly improved results in the case of oscillator strengths and two-photon absorption strengths, while excited state dipole moments, dipole polarizabilities, and first-order hyperpolarizabilities exhibit similar accuracy at ADC(3) and ADC(3/2) levels. Taking the significant increase of central processing unit time and memory requirements of the consistent ADC(3) approach into account, the mixed-order ADC(3/2) scheme offers a better compromise between accuracy and efficiency for the properties considered.