An ab initio investigation on the ground electronic state of chlorine monoxide and its singly charged cation and anion

The MRCI method has been utilized to calculate the equilibrium structure of the ground electronic state for the ClO radical and its singly charged cation and anion, ClO(+) and ClO(-). The augmented correlation-consistent basis sets up through sextuple-zeta quality are used to derive equilibrium structural parameters, potential energy curves and spectroscopic constants of the systems. Two extrapolating schemes enable us to remove the basis set truncation error and to estimate the complete basis set limit. Corrections of core-valence correlation and relativistic effect are included in our calculations. By solving the radial Schrödinger equation of nuclear motion, the vibrational energy levels as well as rotational and centrifugal distortion constants of the ground electronic states for the three species are obtained. Ionization potentials and the electron affinities are also obtained on the RCCSD(T)/AV6Z level. The knowledge extracted from this work are anticipated to extend our understanding on molecular characteristics of the ClO(n) (n=-1, 0, +1) systems and can serve as guidelines for further experimental or theoretical researches.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of correlated fine structure branching ratios arising from state-selected predissociation of BrO (A2Π3/2)

We present results for the v'-dependent predissociation dynamics of the BrO (A(2)Π3/2) state using velocity map ion imaging. Correlated fine structure branching ratios, Br((2)P(J)) + O((3)P(J)), have been measured for v' = 5-16 states. The experimental branching ratios are non-statistical and strongly dependent on the initial vibronic state. The current measurements represent an extensive dataset containing rich information about the predissociation dynamics of this system and should provide a stringent test for modern theory. New high level ab initio excited state potentials are presented and have been optimized using experimental v'-dependent predissociation lifetimes and calculated coupling constants. Comparisons between the experimental branching ratios and the predictions based on diabatic and adiabatic limiting models are presented. We find that the adiabatic model is most consistent with the observed trends in the correlated branching ratios, in contrast to previous studies on the related ClO system.