Explicitly correlated treatment of the Ar–NO+ cation

Electronic structure calculations and quantum dynamics of rotational deexcitation of CNNC by He

The quantum dynamics of rotational transitions of the diisocyanogen (CNNC) molecule undergoing collision with the helium (He) atom occurring in the interstellar medium (ISM) has been studied. The rotational deexcitation cross sections are extracted by first computing an ab initio potential energy surface of CNNC-He using the coupled-cluster with single and double and perturbative triple excitations with the F12a method (CCSD(T)-F12a) employing the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. Utilizing the multipole expansions, collisional cross sections are determined for total energies of up to 1000 cm^-1 by the close coupling equations. The discussion on propensity rules suggests that the transitions have even Δj values, while odd Δj valued transitions are forbidden due to C and N nuclei spin statistics. Quasi-bound states present in the CNNC-He van der Waals complex resulted in the resonances coming from the rapid oscillations in the values of the cross sections in the region of low energy. Rotational deexcitation rate coefficients are further worked out by averaging the calculated cross sections at temperatures below 200 K. The new findings of the study will be beneficial in modeling the abundance of diisocyanogen in the ISM.

Roaming pathways and survival probability in real-time collisional dynamics of cold and controlled bialkali molecules

Perfectly controlled molecules are at the forefront of the quest to explore chemical reactivity at ultra low temperatures. Here, we investigate for the first time the formation of the long-lived intermediates in the time-dependent scattering of cold bialkali \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$^{23}\hbox {Na}^{87}$$\end{document}23Na87Rb molecules with and without the presence of infrared trapping light. During the nearly 50 nanoseconds mean collision time of the intermediate complex, we observe unconventional roaming when for a few tens of picoseconds either NaRb or \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\hbox {Na}_2$$\end{document}Na2 and \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\hbox {Rb}_2$$\end{document}Rb2 molecules with large relative separation are formed before returning to the four-atom complex. We also determine the likelihood of molecular loss when the trapping laser is present during the collision. We find that at a wavelength of 1064 nm the \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\hbox {Na}_2\hbox {Rb}_2$$\end{document}Na2Rb2 complex is quickly destroyed and thus that the \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$^{23}\hbox {Na}^{87}$$\end{document}23Na87Rb molecules are rapidly lost.

Toward Automated Variational Computation of Rovibrational Resonances, Including a Case Study of the H2 Dimer

A general and semi-automatic technique, based on the complex absorbing potential (CAP) method, is developed for the variational computation and identification of rotational-vibrational resonance states. This technique is an extension of a method introduced by Tremblay and Carrington ( J. Chem. Phys. 2005, 122, 244107 ), and it employs the damped eigenvectors of a CAP-modified Hamiltonian as a basis to describe resonance wave functions. The low-lying resonances of the weakly bound Ar·NO⁺ complex are computed with the new and the traditional CAP techniques to test the new algorithm. As an additional, more challenging test case, the bound and resonance rovibrational states of the H₂ dimer, the latter with both negative and positive binding energies, are determined, corresponding to different rotational excitations of the H₂ monomers. Resonances above the first few dissociation channels of (H₂)₂ are computed with the new and the traditional CAP methods, revealing some new, assigned resonance quantum states not reported in the literature.

Potential energy surface and rovibrational bound states of the H2-C3N- van der Waals complex

Since their recent detection in the interstellar medium, anions have raised the question of their possible mechanisms of formation, destruction and excitation. This requires knowledge of their interaction with the most abundant interstellar species. In the present work, a four dimensional rigid rotor model of the potential energy surface is developed for the collision of C3N- with H2. Ab initio calculations are performed with explicitly-correlated coupled-cluster theory via CCSD(T)-F12/aug-cc-pVTZ. Two linear equilibrium structures are found, different in the orientation of C3N-. Two more equilibrium structures, symmetrically equivalent, are obtained by the permutation of H atoms. The vibrational dynamics is mainly controlled by the considerable difference between the two bending frequencies that correspond to the hindered rotations of C3N- and H2. This arises from the potential energy surface which is soft for rotation of C3N- and stiff for rotation of H2, and also from the large difference in mass between both monomers. Although a high potential barrier prevents the rotation of H2, a significant tunneling effect is observed which causes a splitting in the degenerate energy levels. On the contrary, the rotation of C3N- is allowed since the energy of the saddle points is lower than the energy of the bound states, but the wavefunctions remain localized around each linear structure unless a large excitation energy is available.

On the gas-phase formation of the HCO- anion: accurate quantum study of the H- + CO radiative association and HCO radiative electron attachment

The hydrogen anion has never been observed in the interstellar medium, but it is most likely present in some interstellar regions. Since direct detection appears especially difficult, improving the knowledge of the astrochemical processes involving this anion should be valuable in defining a way of indirect detection. We present the first study of the radiative association of H- and CO to form the HCO- anion within a quantum time-independent approach. We use a state-of-the-art potential energy surface which has been calculated for the present study. The calculated radiative association rate coefficient is monotonically decreasing from 6 × 10-16 to 5 × 10-19 cm3 per molecule per s across the 0.01-1000 K temperature range. At the typical temperature of the cold interstellar medium, ∼10 K, the radiative association rate is ∼2 × 10-17 cm3 per molecule per s. On the other hand, the plane wave approximation is used to calculate the HCO radiative electron attachment rate coefficient. It is found to be almost constant and also equal to 2 × 10-17 cm3 per molecule per s. Setting aside the question of the abundances of the reactants of both processes, these results demonstrate that among the two gas-phase modes of production of the HCO- anion in cold interstellar medium considered in this study, the H- + CO radiative association is dominating below 10 K while the radiative electron attachment rate is larger above 10 K.

Rotational (de-)excitation of isocyanogen by collision with helium at low energies

Isocyanogen, CNCN, was discovered very recently in the interstellar medium (ISM). At present, the rate coefficients for the rotational (de-)excitation of CNCN by collisions with He are determined. First, we mapped the interaction potential between CNCN and He in Jacobi coordinates using highly correlated ab initio methodology. Then, an analytical expansion of the CNCN-He potential energy surface is derived. Later on, quantum dynamical treatments of nuclear motions are performed using the close coupling technique. We obtained the cross sections for the rotational (de-)excitation of CNCN after a collision by He up to 2000 cm^-1 total energies. These cross sections are used to deduce the collision rates in the 10-300 K range. These data are needed for modeling the CNCN abundances in the ISM. This work should help for determining the abundance of such non-symmetrical dicyanopolyynes in astrophysical media and indirectly the symmetric one [Cyanogen (NCCN)].

Complex rovibrational dynamics of the Ar·NO+ complex

Rotational-vibrational states of the Ar·NO⁺ cationic complex are computed, below, above, and well above the complex's first dissociation energy, using variational nuclear motion and close-coupling scattering computations. The HSLH potential energy surface used in this study (J. Chem. Phys., 2011, 135, 044312) is characterized by a first dissociation energy of D₀ = 887.0 cm^-1 and supports 200 bound vibrational states. The bound-state vibrational energies and the corresponding wave functions allow the interpretation of the scarcely available experimental results about the intermonomer vibrational motion of the complex. A very large number of long-lived quasibound combination states of the three vibrational modes, exhibiting a very similar energy-level structure as that of the bound states, are found embedded in the continuum. Additional short-lived resonance states are also identified and their properties are analyzed.

Advances in spectroscopy and dynamics of small and medium sized molecules and clusters

Investigations of the spectroscopy and dynamics of small- and medium-sized molecules and clusters represent a hot topic in atmospheric chemistry, biology, physics, atto- and femto-chemistry and astrophysics.

Ab initio studies of the Rg-NO(+)(X(1)Σ(+)) van der Waals complexes (Rg = He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe)

We used the explicitly correlated variant of the coupled clusters method with single, double, and noniterative triple excitations [CCSD(T)-F12] to compute two-dimensional potential energy surfaces of van der Waals complexes formed by rare gas atoms (Rg) and NO(+)(X(1)Σ(+)) cations. We used the correlation-consistent, triple-zeta (cc-pVTZ-F12) atomic basis sets, and for Kr and Xe rare gases, we employed corresponding pseudopotential cc-pVTZ-PP-F12 atomic basis sets. These basis sets were additionally augmented with mid-bond functions. The complexes are all of skewed T-shape type with Rg atom being closer to the N-side. Using analytical representation of the potentials, we have estimated zero-point energy corrected dissociation energies from anharmonic calculations with BOUND program and also from the harmonic approximation. The binding energies increase with the polarization of the Rg atom in series from He to Xe and are 196 cm(-1), 360 cm(-1), 1024 cm(-1), 1434 cm(-1), and 2141 cm(-1), respectively. Their corresponding dissociation energies are 132 cm(-1), 300 cm(-1), 927 cm(-1), 1320 cm(-1), and 1994 cm(-1) for the complexes with He to Xe, respectively. We find good agreement with previous theoretical and experimental results. The harmonic vibrational frequencies were calculated for the bending and stretching modes of the Rg-NO(+) complexes.

Explanation of efficient quenching of molecular ion vibrational motion by ultracold atoms

Buffer gas cooling of molecules to cold and ultracold temperatures is a promising technique for realizing a host of scientific and technological opportunities. Unfortunately, experiments using cryogenic buffer gases have found that although the molecular motion and rotation are quickly cooled, the molecular vibration relaxes at impractically long timescales. Here, we theoretically explain the recently observed exception to this rule: efficient vibrational cooling of BaCl(+) by a laser-cooled Ca buffer gas. We perform intense close-coupling calculations that agree with the experimental result, and use both quantum defect theory and a statistical capture model to provide an intuitive understanding of the system. This result establishes that, in contrast to the commonly held opinion, there exists a large class of systems that exhibit efficient vibrational cooling and therefore supports a new route to realize the long-sought opportunities offered by molecular structure.

Microscopic investigations of site and functional selectivity of triazole for CO2 capture and catalytic applications

Ab initio and DFT studies on CO₂ interacting with different tautomers and isomers of triazole (TZ) are carried out to understand the adsorption mechanism, site selectivity and their mutual preferential attracting sites.

Potential energy surface of the CO2-N2 van der Waals complex

Four-dimensional potential energy surface (4D-PES) of the atmospherically relevant CO2-N2 van der Waals complex is generated using the explicitly correlated coupled cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitation (CCSD(T)-F12) method in conjunction with the augmented correlation consistent triple zeta (aug-cc-pVTZ) basis set. This 4D-PES is mapped along the intermonomer coordinates. An analytic fit of this 4D-PES is performed. Our extensive computations confirm that the most stable form corresponds to a T-shape structure where the nitrogen molecule points towards the carbon atom of CO2. In addition, we located a second isomer and two transition states in the ground state PES of CO2-N2. All of them lay below the CO2 + N2 dissociation limit. This 4D-PES is flat and strongly anisotropic along the intermonomer coordinates. This results in the possibility of the occurrence of large amplitude motions within the complex, such as the inversion of N2, as suggested in the recent spectroscopic experiments. Finally, we show that the experimentally established deviations from the C2v structure at equilibrium for the most stable isomer are due to the zero-point out-of-plane vibration correction.

Characterization of Znq+–imidazole (q = 0, 1, 2) organometallic complexes: DFT methods vs. standard and explicitly correlated post-Hartree–Fock methods

Benchmarking DFts for the characterization of the Zn^q+–imidazole (q= 0, 1, 2) complexes.

Theoretical spectroscopic characterization of the ArBeO complex

Using the recently developed explicitly correlated coupled cluster method in connection with the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set, we generated the three-dimensional potential energy surface (3D-PES) of the ground state of the Ar-BeO complex. This PES covers the regions of the global and local minima, the saddle point, and the dissociation of the complex. The PES is also used for the calculation of the rovibrational spectrum up to the dissociation limit. The high density of levels which is observed favors the mixing of the states and hence the occurrence of anharmonic resonances. The wavefunctions of the high rovibrational levels exhibit large amplitude motions in addition to strong anharmonic resonances. Our theoretical spectrum should be helpful in identifying the van der Waals modes of this complex in laboratory.

Prediction of the existence of the N2H- molecular anion

We predict the existence of the N(2)H(-) anion from first principle calculations. We present the three-dimensional potential energy surface and the bound states of the N(2)H(-)/D(-) van der Waals anion. The electronic calculations were performed using state-of-the-art ab initio methods and the nuclear motions were solved using a quantum close-coupling scattering theory. A T-shaped equilibrium structure was found, with a well depth of 349.1 cm(-1), where 18 bound states have been located for N(2)H(-) and 25 for N(2)D(-) for total angular momentum J = 0. We also present the absorption spectra of the N(2)H(-) complex. This anion could be formed after low energy collisions between N(2) and H(-) through radiative association. The importance of this prediction in astrophysics and the possible use of N(2)H(-) as a tracer of N(2) and H(-) in the interstellar medium is discussed.