InteraChem is an ab initio interactive
molecular dynamics (AI-IMD) visualizer that leverages recent advances
in virtual reality hardware and software, as well as the graphical
processing unit (GPU)-accelerated TeraChem electronic
structure package, in order to render quantum chemistry in real time.
We introduce the exploration of electronically excited states via
AI-IMD using the floating occupation molecular orbital-complete active
space configuration interaction method. The optimization tools in
InteraChem enable identification of excited state
minima as well as minimum energy conical intersections for further
characterization of excited state chemistry in small- to medium-sized
systems. We demonstrate that finite-temperature Hartree–Fock
theory is an efficient method to perform ground state AI-IMD. InteraChem allows users to track electronic properties
such as molecular orbitals and bond order in real time, resulting
in an interactive visualization tool that aids in the interpretation
of excited state chemistry data and makes quantum chemistry more accessible
for both research and educational purposes.