Reaction dynamics within a cluster environment

This perspective article reviews experimental and theoretical works where rare gas clusters and helium nanodroplets are used as a nanoreactor to investigate chemical dynamics in a solvent environment. A historical perspective is presented first followed by specific considerations on the mobility of reactants within these reaction media. The dynamical response of pure clusters and nanodroplets to photoexcitation is shortly reviewed before examining the role of the cluster (or nanodroplet) degrees of freedom in the photodynamics of the guest atoms and molecules.

Dynamics of Photoexcited Cs Atoms Attached to Helium Nanodroplets

We present an experimental study of the dynamics following the photoexcitation and subsequent photoionization of single Cs atoms on the surface of helium nanodroplets. The dynamics of excited Cs atom desorption and readsorption as well as CsHe exciplex formation are measured by using femtosecond pump-probe velocity map imaging spectroscopy and ion time-of-flight spectrometry. The time scales for the desorption of excited Cs atoms off helium nanodroplets as well as the time scales for CsHe exciplex formation are experimentally determined for the 6p states of Cs. For the 6p ²Π_1/2 state, our results confirm that the excited Cs atoms only desorb from the nanodroplet when the excitation wavenumber is blue-shifted from the 6p ²Π_1/2 ← 6s ²Σ_1/2 resonance. Our results suggest that the dynamics following excitation to the 6p ²Π_3/2 state can be described by an evaporation-like desorption mechanism, whereas the dynamics arising from excitation to the 6p ²Σ_1/2 state is indicative for a more impulsive desorption process. Furthermore, our results suggest a helium-induced spin-orbit relaxation from the 6p ²Σ_1/2 state to the 6p ²Π_1/2 state. Our findings largely agree with the results of time-dependent ⁴He density functional theory (DFT) simulations published earlier [Eur. Phys. J. D 2019, 73, 94].

Modelling interactions of cationic dimers in He droplets: microsolvation trends in HenK2+ clusters

We report the results of a detailed theoretical investigation of small K₂⁺-doped He clusters. The structural characteristics and stabilities of such cations are determined from ab initio electronic structure calculations at the MRCI+Q level of theory. The underlying interactions show a multireference character and such effects are analyzed. The interaction potentials are constructed employing an interpolation technique within the inverse problem theory method, while the nuclear quantum effects are computed for the trimers, their spatial arrangements are discussed, and information was extracted on the orientational anisotropy of the forces. We found that energetically the most stable conformer corresponds to linear arrangements that are taking place under large amplitude vibrations, with high zero-point energy. We have further looked into the behavior of higher-order species with various He atoms surrounding the cationic dopant. By using a sum of potentials approach and an evolutionary programming method, we analyzed the structural stability of clusters with up to six He atoms in comparison with interactions energies obtained from MRCI+Q quantum chemistry computations. Structures containing He_n motifs that characterize pure rare gas clusters, appear for the larger K₂⁺-doped He clusters, showing selective growth during the microsolvation process of the alkali-dimer cation surrounded by He atoms. Such results indicate the existence of local solvation microstructures in these aggregates, where the cationic impurity could get trapped for a short time, contributing to the slow ionic mobility observed experimentally in ultra-cold He-droplets.

Quantum effects on the stability of the He5 I2 van der Waals conformers

We present 15-dimensional quantum multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree calculations of the vibrational levels of the He₅ I₂ van der Waals (vdW) complex employing an ab initio-based potential energy surface (PES). The energies and spatial features of such bound structures are analyzed, providing predictions on the structures and relative stabilities of its three lowest isomers. We found that the most stable isomer corresponds to all five He atoms encircling the I₂ molecule, indicating that in this case the anharmonic quantum effects do not stabilize the isomers involving a He atom in a linear configuration as reported previously for the smaller He_N I₂ systems. Such finding provides information on the overall structuring of the finite-size-solvent systems, highlighting the intriguing interplay between weak intermolecular interactions and quantum effects. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Theoretical Study of Cationic Alkali Dimers Interacting with He: Li2+-He and Na2+-He van der Waals Complexes

We present a theoretical study on the potential energy surface and bound states of He-A₂⁺ complexes, where A is one of the alkali Li or Na atoms. The intermolecular interactions were systematically investigated by high-level ab initio electronic structure computations, and the corresponding raw data were then employed to reproduce accurate analytical expressions of the potential surfaces. In turn, we used these potentials to evaluate bound configurations of the trimers from nuclear quantum calculations and to extract information on the effect of orientational anisotropy of the forces and the interplay between repulsive and attractive interaction within the potential surfaces. The spatial features of the bound states are analyzed and discussed in detail. We found that both systems are going under large amplitude stretching and bending motions with high zero-point energies. Despite the large differences in the potential well-depths, the correct treatment of nuclear quantum effects provides insights on the effect of different strength of the ionic interaction on the spectral structure of such cationic alkali van der Waals complexes, related to the mobility of ions and the formation of cold-molecules in He-controlled environments.

4s to 5s and 4p photoexcitation dynamics of K atoms from the surface of helium nanodroplets: a theoretical study

We study the photodissociation of the potassium atom from a superfluid helium nanodroplet upon 5s ²S or 4p ²P excitation using the time-dependent helium density functional method (He-TDDFT). The results show possible K spin–orbit relaxation.

MELEXIR: maximum entropy Legendre expanded image reconstruction. A fast and efficient method for the analysis of velocity map imaging or photoelectron imaging data

The MELEXIR program obtains a Legendre expansion of the 3D velocity distribution from 2D images of ions or photoelectrons. The maximum entropy algorithm avoids inverse Abel transforms, is fast and applicable to low-intensity images.