  We investigate the possibility of using a transcorrelated Hamiltonian to
describe electron correlation. Amethod to obtain
transcorrelatedwavefunctionswas developed based on the mathematical framework
of the bi-variational principle. This involves the construction of an effective
transcorrelated Hamiltonian matrix which can be solved in a self-consistent
manner. This was optimised using a method we call Second Order Moment (SOM)
minimisation to give highly accurate energies for some closed-shell atoms and
helium-like ions. The effect of certain correlator terms on the description of
electron-electron and electron-nuclear cusps were also examined graphically and
some transcorrelated wavefunctions were compared against near-exact Hylleraas
wavefunctions.
