Coupled cluster methods are sophisticated mathematical techniques used in quantum chemistry to obtain highly accurate approximations of the ground and excited states of many-body quantum systems. They work by incorporating correlations between particles, allowing for the systematic inclusion of electron interactions beyond the mean-field approximation. These methods are particularly powerful when applied within the framework of the variational principle, as they can effectively minimize the energy of a system while considering complex interactions.
congrats on reading the definition of Coupled Cluster Methods. now let's actually learn it.