Calculation of OH-stretching band intensities of the water dimer and trimer

High level ab initio study of the structure and vibrational spectra of HO2NO2

A high-level ab initio study has been performed on the conformational structure and vibrational spectra of HO(2)NO(2). Calculations carried out with coupled-cluster methods using a series of Pople and Dunning basis sets reveal that there is a significant basis set dependence on the predicted ab initio structure. Higher angular momentum basis sets are shown to be necessary in order to bring the calculated structure into agreement with experimental rotational constants. Harmonic vibrational frequencies of HO(2)NO(2) are computed at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory while the corresponding vibrational anharmonicities are calculated at the MP2/cc-pVTZ level. In addition, the absorption cross sections of OH stretching overtones in HO(2)NO(2) are calculated using a dipole function computed at the QCISD level of theory and found to be in good agreement with the available experimental data.

Relative vibrational overtone intensity of cis–cis and trans–perp peroxynitrous acid

The vibrational overtone spectrum of HOONO is examined in the region of the 2 nu(OH) and 3 nu(OH) bands using action spectroscopy in conjunction with ab initio intensity calculations. The present measurements indicate that the oscillator strength associated with the higher energy trans-perp conformer of HOONO is stronger relative to the lower energy cis-cis conformer for both these vibrational overtone levels. Ab initio intensity calculations carried out at the QCISD level of theory suggest that this disparity in oscillator strength apparently arises from differences in the second derivative of the transition dipole moment function of the two isomers. The calculations indicate that the oscillator strength for the trans-perp isomer is approximately 5.4 times larger than that of the cis-cis isomer for the 2 nu(OH) band and approximately 2 times larger for 3 nu(OH) band. The band positions and intensities predicted by the calculations are used to aid in the assignment of features in the experimental action spectra associated with the OH stretching overtones of HOONO. The observed relative intensities in the experimental action spectra when normalized to the calculated oscillator strengths appears to suggest that the concentration of the higher energy trans-perp isomer is comparable to the concentration of the cis-cis isomer in these room temperature experiments.

High-levelab initiostudies of the electronic excited states of the hydroxyl radical and water–hydroxyl complex

The lowest-energy electronic transitions in the hydroxyl radical and the hydrogen bound complex H(2)O.HO have been studied using ab initio methods. We have used the complete active-space self-consistent field and multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) methods to calculate vertical excitation energies and oscillator strengths. At the MRCI level the lowest-lying (2)Sigma(+)<--(2)Pi electronic transition is redshifted by about 2500 cm(-1) upon formation of the H(2)O.HO complex. We propose that this transition could be used to identify the complex in the gas phase, which in turn could be used to examine the role of H(2)O.HO in atmospheric reactions.

Atmospheric detection of water dimers via near-infrared absorption

Weakly bonded pairs of water molecules (H2O)2, or water dimers (WDs), may play an important role in photochemistry and climate, but the overlap of most of its spectral features with the water monomer (WM) has made detection difficult. We report on WD absorption measurements by means of atmospheric long-path (18.34 kilometers) differential optical absorption spectroscopy of the near-infrared OH stretching mode 0>f 4>b overtone transition predicted to be located near 746 nanometers. Our observation is in reasonable agreement with the known thermochemistry, calculated and measured structure, and spectroscopy (band strength, shape, and width) of the WD. The observation implies that the WD 0>f 4>b band is located at 749.5 nanometers, with a full width at half maximum of approximately 19.4 wave numbers, and that its band strength ranges between 1.23 x 10(-22) and 5.25 x 10(-22) centimeters per molecule.

Photolysis of sulfuric acid vapor by visible solar radiation

Atmospheric field measurements and models of the stratospheric sulfate aerosol layer led to the suggestion that sulfuric acid (H2SO4) must photolyze at high altitudes. We propose that excitation of vibrational overtones of H2SO4 and its hydrate in the near-infrared and visible leads to photolysis, forming sulfur trioxide (SO3) and water. On the basis of absorption cross sections calculated with ab initio methods calibrated to experimental measurements, we estimated J values that are sufficient to explain stratospheric and mesospheric sulfur dioxide (SO2) concentrations and the observation of the sulfate layer.

Local modes

The historical background for the development of the local mode approach is reviewed, including the critical role of the radiation field. The harmonically coupled anharmonic oscillator model is described. Local modes have been used in the interpretation of XH stretching overtone spectra. These spectra can be used as sensitive probes of molecular properties such as bond length and molecular conformation. Examples of these spectral features are discussed. An intensity theory has been developed that permits the accurate calculation of relative and absolute overtone intensities. In molecules with low barriers to methyl rotation, torsional states contribute to the XH stretching band profile. A successful theoretical approach is presented that accounts for these effects and provides insight into the vibrational dynamics. The application of calculated local mode overtone spectra to atmospheric chemistry is discussed.Key words: local mode, overtone, vibrational intensity.