Gaussian (software)

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title: "Gaussian (software)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["computational-chemistry-software"] description: "Computational chemistry software" topic_path: "science/chemistry" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaussian_(software)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Computational chemistry software ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox software"]

Field	Value
title	Gaussian
logo
screenshot
author	W. J. Hehre, W. A. Lathan, R. Ditchfield, M. D. Newton, John Pople
developer	Pople Research Group at Carnegie Mellon University;
Gaussian, Inc.
released
latest release version	Gaussian 16
latest release date
latest preview date
language count
license	Proprietary
website
::

| name = | title = Gaussian | logo = | logo caption = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | screenshot = | caption = | screenshot_size = | screenshot_alt = | collapsible = | author = W. J. Hehre, W. A. Lathan, R. Ditchfield, M. D. Newton, John Pople | developer = Pople Research Group at Carnegie Mellon University; Gaussian, Inc. | released = | discontinued = | latest release version = Gaussian 16 | latest release date = | latest preview version = | latest preview date = | status = | programming language = | operating system = | platform = | size = | language = | language count = | language footnote = | genre = | license = Proprietary | website = Gaussian is a general purpose computational chemistry software package initially released in 1970 by John Pople |title= Publisher's note: Sir John A. Pople, 1925-2004 |journal= Journal of Computational Chemistry |volume= 25 |issue= 9 |pages= fmv–vii |doi =10.1002/jcc.20049 |pmid= 15116364 |year= 2004

Standard abilities

According to the most recent Gaussian manual, the package can do:

• Molecular mechanics
  • AMBER
  • Universal force field (UFF)
  • DREIDING force field
• Semi-empirical quantum chemistry method calculations
  • Austin Model 1 (AM1), PM3, CNDO, INDO, MINDO/3, MNDO
• Self-consistent field (SCF methods)
  • Hartree–Fock method: restricted, unrestricted, and restricted open-shell
• Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2, MP3, MP4, MP5).
• Built-in density functional theory (DFT) methods
  • B3LYP and other hybrid functionals
  • Exchange functionals: PBE, MPW, PW91, Slater, X-alpha, Gill96, TPSS.
  • Correlation functionals: PBE, TPSS, VWN, PW91, LYP, PL, P86, B95
• ONIOM (QM/MM method) up to three layers
• Complete active space (CAS) and multi-configurational self-consistent field calculations
• Coupled cluster calculations
• Quadratic configuration interaction (QCI) methods
• Quantum chemistry composite methods – CBS-QB3, CBS-4, CBS-Q, CBS-Q/APNO, G1, G2, G3, W1 high-accuracy methods

Official release history

Gaussian 70, Gaussian 76, Gaussian 80, Gaussian 82, Gaussian 86, Gaussian 88, Gaussian 90, Gaussian 92, Gaussian 92/DFT, Gaussian 94, and Gaussian 98, Gaussian 03, Gaussian 09, Gaussian 16.

Other programs named 'Gaussian XX' were placed among the holdings of the Quantum Chemistry Program Exchange. These were unofficial, unverified ports of the program to other computer platforms.

License controversy

In the past, Gaussian, Inc. has attracted controversy for its licensing terms that stipulate that researchers who develop competing software packages are not permitted to use the software. Some scientists consider these terms overly restrictive. The anonymous group bannedbygaussian.org has published a list of scientists whom it claims are not permitted to use GAUSSIAN software. These assertions were repeated by Jim Giles in 2004 in Nature. |author=Jim Giles |year=2004 |journal=Nature |title=Software company bans competitive users |volume=429 |issue=6989 |page=231 |bibcode= 2004Natur.429..231G |doi=10.1038/429231a |pmid=15152213 |doi-access=free |year=2004 |journal=Chemical and Engineering News |title=Grumblings about Gaussian |url=http://pubs.acs.org/isubscribe/journals/cen/82/i10/html/8210scic.html#Anchor-44867 |volume=82 |issue=10 |page=29 |title=Quantum Chemistry Uproar |journal=Chemical and Engineering News |volume=77 |issue=36 |pages=27–30 |doi=10.1021/cen-v077n036.p027 |year=1999

Gaussian, Inc. disputes the accuracy of these descriptions of its policy and actions, noting that all of the listed institutions do in fact have licenses for everyone but directly competing researchers. They also claim that not licensing competitors is standard practice in the software industry and members of the Gaussian collaboration community have been refused licenses from competing institutions.

References

References

1. "John Pople and Gaussian".
2. W. J. Hehre, W. A. Lathan, R. Ditchfield, M. D. Newton, and J. A. Pople, Gaussian 70 (Quantum Chemistry Program Exchange, Program No. 237, 1970)
3. Young, David. (2001). "Computational Chemistry". Wiley-Interscience.
4. "Gaussian Citation".
5. "Gaussian online manual".
6. (1985). "Development and use of quantum molecular models. 75. Comparative tests of theoretical procedures for studying chemical reactions". Journal of the American Chemical Society.
7. James J. P. Stewart. (1989). "Optimization of parameters for semiempirical methods I. Method". Journal of Computational Chemistry.
8. (1934). "Note on an Approximation Treatment form Many-Electron Systems". Physical Review.
9. Vosko, S.H.. (1980). "Accurate spin-dependent electron liquid correlation energies for local spin density calculations: a critical analysis". Canadian Journal of Physics.
10. "Banned By Gaussian".
11. "WATOC discussion on Computational Software".
12. "Comments on the "Banned by Gaussian" Website".

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