semiempiriset

Semiempiriset is a Finnish term that translates to "semi-empirical" in English. It is commonly used in scientific and academic contexts to describe methods or theories that combine both theoretical principles and experimental data. These approaches acknowledge the limitations of purely theoretical models and incorporate empirical observations to improve their accuracy and predictive power.

In various fields, such as chemistry, physics, and engineering, semi-empirical methods are employed when exact theoretical solutions are too complex or computationally expensive to obtain. Instead, simplified theoretical frameworks are developed, and parameters within these frameworks are then adjusted or determined through comparison with experimental results. This allows for the creation of models that are more practical and efficient for problem-solving.

For instance, in computational chemistry, semi-empirical quantum chemistry methods use approximations to the fundamental equations of quantum mechanics. These approximations significantly reduce the computational cost, making it possible to study larger molecules or more complex reactions. The accuracy of these methods is often comparable to more rigorous, ab initio methods for certain types of calculations, especially when parameterized appropriately. The term emphasizes the intermediate position between purely theoretical, first-principles calculations and purely empirical, data-driven models.