The vibration-rotation-tunneling levels of N2-H2O and N2-D2O

In this paper, we report vibration-rotation-tunneling levels of the van der Waals clusters N2-H2O and N2-D2O computed from an ab initio potential energy surface. The only dynamical approximation is that the monomers are rigid. We use a symmetry adapted Lanczos algorithm and an uncoupled product basis set. The pattern of the cluster's levels is complicated by splittings caused by H-H exchange tunneling (larger splitting) and N-N exchange tunneling (smaller splitting). An interesting result that emerges from our calculation is that whereas in N2-H2O, the symmetric H-H tunnelling state is below the anti-symmetric H-H tunnelling state for both K = 0 and K = 1, the order is reversed in N2-D2O for K = 1. The only experimental splitting measurements are the D-D exchange tunneling splittings reported by Zhu et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 139, 214309 (2013)] for N2-D2O in the v2 = 1 region of D2O. Due to the inverted order of the split levels, they measure the sum of the K = 0 and K = 1 tunneling splittings, which is in excellent agreement with our calculated result. Other splittings we predict, in particular those of N2-H2O, may guide future experiments.

Two new methods for computing vibrational energy levels

I review two new ideas for coping with the size of large product basis sets and large product grids when one computes vibrational energy levels. The first is based on a tensor reduction scheme. It exploits advantages of a sum-of-products potential. The key idea is to use a basis each of whose function is a sum of optimized products and to compress the number of terms in each basis function. When the potential does not have the sum-of-products form, it is usually necessary to use quadrature. The second idea uses a nondirect product grid that has structure and is therefore compatible with efficient matrix–vector products.

Approximate first-principles anharmonic calculations of polyatomic spectra using MP2 and B3LYP potentials: comparisons with experiment

Anharmonic vibrational spectroscopy calculations using MP2 and B3LYP computed potential surfaces are carried out for a series of molecules, and frequencies and intensities are compared with those from experiment. The vibrational self-consistent field with second-order perturbation correction (VSCF-PT2) is used in computing the spectra. The test calculations have been performed for the molecules HNO3, C2H4, C2H4O, H2SO4, CH3COOH, glycine, and alanine. Both MP2 and B3LYP give results in good accord with experimental frequencies, though, on the whole, MP2 gives very slightly better agreement. A statistical analysis of deviations in frequencies from experiment is carried out that gives interesting insights. The most probable percentage deviation from experimental frequencies is about -2% (to the red of the experiment) for B3LYP and +2% (to the blue of the experiment) for MP2. There is a higher probability for relatively large percentage deviations when B3LYP is used. The calculated intensities are also found to be in good accord with experiment, but the percentage deviations are much larger than those for frequencies. The results show that both MP2 and B3LYP potentials, used in VSCF-PT2 calculations, account well for anharmonic effects in the spectroscopy of molecules of the types considered.

Vibrational energy levels of difluorodioxirane computed with variational and perturbative methods from a hybrid force field

We have computed vibrational energy levels of difluorodioxirane (CF2O2). For the potential, a Taylor expansion in normal coordinates is used. The CCSD(T) and MP2 methods and correlation consistent basis sets of quadruple-zeta quality are used to determine the force constants. The vibrational Schrödinger equation was solved using both a variational method and second order perturbation theory. The Watson kinetic energy operator and a discrete variable representation were used with the DEWE (E. Mátyus, G. Czakó, B.T. Sutcliffe and A.G. Császár, J. Chem. Phys. 127 (2007) 084102) computer program to do the variational calculations. For the variational calculations, the average absolute deviation of fundamentals, with respect to experimental values, is less than 3 cm(-1). Perturbative results are almost as good. About 300 vibrational levels were computed. (16)O→(18)O isotopic shifts have also been calculated variationally for the lowest 75 vibrational energy levels and are compared to experimental results.

Calculating and assigning rovibrational energy levels of (15N2O)2, (15N14NO)2, 14N2O-15N2O and 15N14NO-15N2O

In this paper we report transition frequencies and rotational constants computed for several isotopologues of the nitrous oxide dimer. A previously reported intermolecular potential, the symmetry adapted Lanczos algorithm and an uncoupled product basis set are used to do the calculations. Rotational transition frequencies and rotational constants are in good agreement with experiment. We calculate states localized in both polar and nonpolar wells on the potential surface. Two of the four isotopologues we study have inequivalent monomers. They have wavefunctions localized over a single polar well.

Towards Accurate Spectroscopic Identification of Species at Catalytic Surfaces: Anharmonic Vibrations of Formate on AuPt

We present a calculation of vibrational frequencies of formate on the AuPt(111) surface alloy including full anharmonicity and coupling of all six intramolecular degrees of freedom. This species is a key intermediate in methanol oxidation on this material. We use a modified version of the method of Manzhos and Carrington to compute the spectrum directly from a small number (<10,000) of DFT single-point energies, bypassing the construction of a potential energy surface. This is the first such calculation for a 4-atomic species at a surface. The spectrum is obtained using rectangular collocation and a small basis set of parameterized Hermite functions. The achievable accuracy of the order of several cm-1 corresponds to the typical experimental resolution. Using normal coordinates makes the equations simple and general and easily applicable to other systems. This calculation is doable on a PC. We predict that anharmonicity and coupling lower the fundamental frequencies by dozens of cm-1, which could affect species assignment.