Term: correlation energy https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C01349 Definition: The difference between the Hartree–Fock energy calculated for a system and the exact non-relativistic energy of that system. The correlation energy arises from the approximate representation of the electron-electron repulsions in the Hartree–Fock method. Related Terms: 1) hartree (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.H02747). Source: PAC, 1996, 68, 2223. 'Glossary of terms used in photochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 2234 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668122223) Citation: 'correlation energy' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C01349 License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms. Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.