Response theory calculations of singlet-triplet transitions in molecular nitrogen

Nonadiabatic quantum dynamics explores non-monotonic photodissociation branching of N2 into the N(4S) + N(2D) and N(4S) + N(2P) product channels

Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photodissociation of N2 molecules is a source of reactive N atoms in the interstellar medium. In the energy range of VUV optical excitation of N2, the N-N triple bond cleavage leads to three types of atoms: ground-state N(4S) and excited-state N(2P) and N(2D). The latter is the highest reactive and it is believed to be the primary participant in reactions with hydrocarbons in Titan's atmosphere. Experimental studies have observed a non-monotonic energy dependence and non-statistical character of the photodissociation of N2. This implies different dissociation pathways and final atomic products for different wavelength regions in the sunlight spectrum. We here apply ab initio quantum chemical and nonadiabatic quantum dynamical techniques to follow the path of an electronic state from the excitation of a particular singlet 1Σ+u and 1Πu vibronic level of N2 to its dissociation into different atomic products. We simulate dynamics for two isotopomers of the nitrogen molecule, 14N2 and 14N15N for which experimental data on the branching are available. Our computations capture the non-monotonic energy dependence of the photodissociation branching ratios in the energy range 108 000-116 000 cm-1. Tracing the quantum dynamics in a bunch of electronic states enables us to identify the key components that determine the efficacy of singlet to triplet population transfer and therefore predissociation lifetimes and branching ratios for different energy regions.

Prediction of new spin-forbidden transitions in the N2 molecule-the electric dipole A'5Σg + → A3Σu + and magnetic dipole a'1Σu -← A3Σu + transitions

On the ground of multi-reference configuration interaction calculations with an account of spin-orbit coupling, we have predicted the probability of two unknown spin-forbidden transitions in the spectrum of the N₂ molecule: the electric dipole A'⁵Σ_g ⁺ → A³Σ_u ⁺ emission system and the magnetic dipole a'¹Σ_u ^- ← A³Σ_u ⁺ transition. The radiative lifetime of the lowest A'⁵Σ_g ⁺ sublevel is less than a microsecond; the magnetic transition induced by the spin current in the triplet state is predicted with relatively low oscillator strength (f = 10^-10), which still could be detectable.

Triplet state harvesting and search for forbidden transition intensity in the nitrogen molecule

Triplet excited states of the N2 molecule play an important role in electric discharges through air or liquid nitrogen accompanied by various afterglows. In the rarefied upper atmosphere, they produce aurora borealis and participate in other energy-transfer processes connected with atmospheric photochemistry and nightglow. In this work, we present spin-orbit coupling calculations of the intensity of various forbidden transitions, including the prediction of the electric dipole transition moment of the new1 3 Σ g - ←   A 3 Σ u + band, which is strongly prohibited by the (+|-) selection rule, the new spin-induced magneticB ' 3 Σ u - ←   A 3 Σ u + transition, magnetic and electric quadrupole transitions for the B3Πg← X 1 Σ g + Wilkinson band, and the Lyman-Birge-Hopfield a1Πg ← X1Σg transition. Also, two other far-UV singlet-singlet quadrupole transitions are calculated for the first time, namely, the Dressler-Lutz a"1Σg +-X1Σg + and the less studied z1Δg-X1Σg + weak transitions.

Theory and Calculation of the Phosphorescence Phenomenon

Phosphorescence is a phenomenon of delayed luminescence that corresponds to the radiative decay of the molecular triplet state. As a general property of molecules, phosphorescence represents a cornerstone problem of chemical physics due to the spin prohibition of the underlying triplet-singlet emission and because its analysis embraces a deep knowledge of electronic molecular structure. Phosphorescence is the simplest physical process which provides an example of spin-forbidden transformation with a characteristic spin selectivity and magnetic field dependence, being the model also for more complicated chemical reactions and for spin catalysis applications. The bridging of the spin prohibition in phosphorescence is commonly analyzed by perturbation theory, which considers the intensity borrowing from spin-allowed electronic transitions. In this review, we highlight the basic theoretical principles and computational aspects for the estimation of various phosphorescence parameters, like intensity, radiative rate constant, lifetime, polarization, zero-field splitting, and spin sublevel population. Qualitative aspects of the phosphorescence phenomenon are discussed in terms of concepts like structure-activity relationships, donor-acceptor interactions, vibronic activity, and the role of spin-orbit coupling under charge-transfer perturbations. We illustrate the theory and principles of computational phosphorescence by highlighting studies of classical examples like molecular nitrogen and oxygen, benzene, naphthalene and their azaderivatives, porphyrins, as well as by reviewing current research on systems like electrophosphorescent transition metal complexes, nucleobases, and amino acids. We furthermore discuss modern studies of phosphorescence that cover topics of applied relevance, like the design of novel photofunctional materials for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), photovoltaic cells, chemical sensors, and bioimaging.

Theoretical Study of the Reactions of Methane and Ethane with Electronically Excited N2(A(3)Σu(+))

Comprehensive quantum chemical analysis with the usage of density functional theory and post-Hartree-Fock approaches were carried out to study the processes in the N2(A(3)Σu(+)) + CH4 and N2(A(3)Σu(+)) + C2H6 systems. The energetically favorable reaction pathways have been revealed on the basis of the examination of potential energy surfaces. It has been shown that the reactions N2(A(3)Σu(+)) + CH4 and N2(A(3)Σu(+)) + C2H6 occur with very small or even zero activation barriers and, primarily, lead to the formation of N2H + CH3 and N2H + C2H5 products, respectively. Further, the interaction of these species can give rise the ground state N2(X(1)Σg(+)) and CH4 (or C2H6) products, i.e., quenching of N2(A(3)Σu(+)) by CH4 and C2H6 molecules is the complex two-step process. The possibility of dissociative quenching in the course of the interaction of N2(A(3)Σu(+)) with CH4 and C2H6 molecules has been analyzed on the basis of RRKM theory. It has been revealed that, for the reaction of N2(A(3)Σu(+)) with CH4, the dissociative quenching channel could occur with rather high probability, whereas in the N2(A(3)Σu(+)) + C2H6 reacting system, an analogous process was little probable. Appropriate rate constants for revealed reaction channels have been estimated by using a canonical variational theory and capture approximation. The estimations showed that the rate constant of the N2(A(3)Σu(+)) + C2H6 reaction path is considerably greater than that for the N2(A(3)Σu(+)) + CH4 one.

Accurate potential energy functions, non-adiabatic and spin-orbit couplings in the ZnH(+) system

A high-level ab initio calculation on the ZnH(+) cation has been carried out with the multi-reference configuration interaction method plus Davison correction (MRCI+Q). The scalar relativistic effect is included by using the Douglas-Kroll-Hess (DKH) method. The calculated potential energy curves (PECs) of the 7 Λ-S states are associated with the dissociation limits of Zn(+)((2)Sg)+H((2)Sg), Zn((1)Sg)+H(+)((1)Sg), and Zn(+)((2)Pu)+H((2)Sg), respectively (The Λ-S state is labeled as (2S+1)Λ, in which Λ is the quantum number for the projection along the internuclear axis of the total electronic orbital angular momentum and S is the total electron spin). The spectroscopic constants of the bound states are determined and in good agreement with the available theoretical and experimental results. The permanent dipole moments (PDMs) of Λ-S states and the spin-orbit (SO) matrix elements between Λ-S states are also computed. The results show that the abrupt changes of the PDMs and SO matrix elements come into being for the reason of the avoided crossing between the states with the same symmetry. In addition, the non-adiabatic couplings matrix elements between Λ-S states are also evaluated. Finally, the spin-orbit couplings (SOCs) for the low-lying states are considered with Breit-Pauli operator. The SOC effect makes the 7 Λ-S states of the ZnH(+) cation split into 12 Ω states (Ω=Λ+Sz, in which Sz is projection of the total electron spin S along the internuclear Z-axis). For the (3)0(+) state, the two energy minima exhibit in the potential, which could be attributed to the formation of the new avoided crossing point. The transition dipole moments (TDMs), Franck-Condon factors, and the radiative lifetimes of the selected transitions (2)0(+)-X0(+), (3)0(+)-X0(+), (2)1-X0(+) and (3)1-X0(+) have been reported.

Studies on the Q-branch spectral lines of high-lying rovibrational transitions of diatomic system

An analytical formula is suggested to predict the accurate Q-branch spectral lines of rovibrational transitions for diatomic systems by taking multiple spectral differences, and is applied to study the high-lying Q-branch emission spectra of the (0, 0) band of the ⁴Γ₅/₂-⁴Φ₃/₂ and ⁴Γ₇/₂ -⁴Φ₅/₂ systems of TiF molecule using fifteen known accurate experimental transition data. The results show that not only the known experimental transition lines are accurately reproduced, but also the correct values of the unknown spectral lines are predicted.

Studies on the P-branch spectral lines of rovibrational transitions of diatomic system

An analytical formula is used to predict the accurate P-branch spectral lines of rovibrational transitions for diatomic systems. The formula is derived from elementary expression of molecular total energy by taking multiple spectral differences. It is not only reproduces the known experimental transition lines by using a group of fifteen known experimental transition data, but also predicts the accurate spectral lines that may not be available experimentally. The P-branch emission spectra of the (0,1), (0,2) and (0,3) bands of the B(2)∑(+)→X(2)∑(+) system in the (12)C(17)O(+) molecular ion are studied, and correct values of the unknown spectral lines up to J=80.5 for each band are predicted using the formula.