Dynamics Study of the Reaction Ar + HCN → Ar + H + CN

Classification of the HCN isomerization reaction dynamics in Ar buffer gas via machine learning

The effect of the presence of Ar on the isomerization reaction HCN ⇄ CNH is investigated via machine learning. After the potential energy surface function is developed based on the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVQZ level ab initio calculations, classical trajectory simulations are performed. Subsequently, with the aim of extracting insights into the reaction dynamics, the obtained reactivity, that is, whether the reaction occurs or not under a given initial condition, is learned as a function of the initial positions and momenta of all the atoms in the system. The prediction accuracy of the trained model is greater than 95%, indicating that machine learning captures the features of the phase space that affect reactivity. Machine learning models are shown to successfully reproduce reactivity boundaries without any prior knowledge of classical reaction dynamics theory. Subsequent analyses reveal that the Ar atom affects the reaction by displacing the effective saddle point. When the Ar atom is positioned close to the N atom (resp. the C atom), the saddle point shifts to the CNH (HCN) region, which disfavors the forward (backward) reaction. The results imply that analyses aided by machine learning are promising tools for enhancing the understanding of reaction dynamics.

A theoretical study of energy transfer in Ar(1S) + SO2( X ̃ 1 A ') collisions: Cross sections and rate coefficients for vibrational transitions

Vibrational transitions, induced by collisions between rare-gas atoms and molecules, play a key role in many problems of interest in physics and chemistry. A theoretical investigation of the translation-to-vibration (T-V) energy transfer process in argon atom and sulfur dioxide molecule collisions is presented here. For such a purpose, the framework of the quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) methodology was followed over the range of translational energies 2 ≤ E_tr/kcal mol^-1 ≤ 100. A new realistic potential energy surface (PES) for the ArSO₂ system was developed using pairwise addition for the four-body energy term within the double many-body expansion. The topological features of the obtained function are compared with a previous one reported by Hippler et al. [J. Phys. Chem. 90, 6158 (1986)]. To test the accuracy of the PES, additional coupled cluster singles and doubles method with a perturbative contribution of connected triples calculations were carried out for the global minimum configuration. From dynamical calculations, the cross sections for the T-V excitation process indicate a barrier-type mechanism due to strong repulsive interactions between SO₂ molecules and the Ar atom. Corrections to zero-point energy leakage in QCT were carried out using vibrational energy quantum mechanical threshold of the complex and variations. Rate coefficients and cross sections are calculated for some vibrational transitions using pseudo-quantization approaches of the vibrational energy of products. Main attributes of the title molecular collision are discussed and compared with available information in the literature.

“Plug and play” full-dimensional ab initio potential energy and dipole moment surfaces and anharmonic vibrational analysis for CH4–H2O

The first full-dimensional potential energy surface of CH₄–H₂O dimer is presented, and vibrational analysis of this dimer is performed.

Trajectory dynamics study of collision-induced dissociation of the Ar + CH4 reaction at hyperthermal conditions: vibrational excitation and isotope substitution

We investigate the role of vibrational energy excitation of methane and two deuterated species (CD(4) and CH(2)D(2)) in the collision-induced dissociation (CID) process with argon at hyperthermal energies. The quasi-classical trajectory method has been applied, and the reactive Ar + CH(4) system has been modeled by using a modified version of the CH(4) potential energy surface of Duchovic et al. (J. Phys. Chem. 1984, 88, 1339) and the Ar-CH(4) intermolecular potential function obtained by Troya (J. Phys. Chem. A 2005, 109, 5814). This study clearly shows that CID is markedly enhanced with vibrational excitation and, to a lesser degree, with collision energy. In general, CID increases by exciting stretch vibrational modes of the reactant molecule. For the direct dissociation of CH(4), however, the CID cross sections appear to be essentially independent of which vibrational mode is initially excited. In all situations studied, the CID cross sections are always greater for the Ar + CD(4) reaction than for the Ar + CH(4) one, the Ar + CH(2)D(2) being an intermediate situation. A detailed analysis of the energy transfer processes, including their relation with CID, is also presented.

New Double Many-Body Expansion Potential Energy Surface for Ground-State HCN from a Multiproperty Fit to Accurate ab Initio Energies and Rovibrational Calculations

An accurate single-sheeted double many-body expansion potential energy surface has been obtained for the ground electronic state of the hydrogen cyanide molecule via a multiproperty fit to ab initio energies and rovibrational data. This includes 106 rovibrational levels and 2313 discrete points, which are fit with a rmsd of 4 cm(-1) and 2.42 kcal mol(-1), respectively, and seven zero first-derivatives that are reproduced at three stationary points. Since the potential also describes accurately the appropriate asymptotic limits at the various dissociation channels, it is commended both for the simulation of rovibrational spectra and reaction dynamics.

Trajectory Dynamics Study of the Ar + CH4Dissociation Reaction at High Temperatures: the Importance of Zero-Point-Energy Effects

Large-scale classical trajectory calculations have been performed to study the reaction Ar + CH4--> CH3 +H + Ar in the temperature range 2500 < or = T/K < or = 4500. The potential energy surface used for ArCH4 is the sum of the nonbonding pairwise potentials of Hase and collaborators (J. Chem. Phys. 2001, 114, 535) that models the intermolecular interaction and the CH4 intramolecular potential of Duchovic et al. (J. Phys. Chem. 1984, 88, 1339), which has been modified to account for the H-H repulsion at small bending angles. The thermal rate coefficient has been calculated, and the zero-point energy (ZPE) of the CH3 product molecule has been taken into account in the analysis of the results; also, two approaches have been applied for discarding predissociative trajectories. In both cases, good agreement is observed between the experimental and trajectory results after imposing the ZPE of CH3. The energy-transfer parameters have also been obtained from trajectory calculations and compared with available values estimated from experiment using the master equation formalism; in general, the agreement is good.

Quasiclassical trajectory study of the collision-induced dissociation of CH[sub 3]SH[sup +]+Ar

Quasiclassical trajectory calculations were carried out to study the dynamics of energy transfer and collision-induced dissociation (CID) of CH(3)SH(+) + Ar at collision energies ranging from 4.34 to 34.7 eV. The relative abundances calculated for the most relevant product ions are found to be in good agreement with experiment, except for the lowest energies investigated. In general, the dissociation to form CH(3)(+) + SH is the dominant channel, even though it is not among the energetically favored reaction pathways. The results corroborate that this selective dissociation observed upon collisional activation arises from a more efficient translational to vibrational energy transfer for the low-frequency C-S stretching mode than for the high-frequency C-H stretching modes, together with weak couplings between the low- and high-frequency modes of vibration. The calculations suggest that CID takes place preferentially by a direct CH(3)(+) + SH detachment, and more efficiently when the Ar atom collides with the methyl group-side of CH(3)SH(+).