On the argon–methane interaction from scattering data

Ab initio 3D potential energy and dipole moment surfaces for the CH4-Ar complex: Collision-induced intensity and dimer content

We present new three-dimensional potential energy surface (PES) and dipole moment surfaces (DMSs) for the CH4-Ar van der Waals system. Ab initio calculations of the PES and DMS were carried out using the closed-shell single- and double-excitation coupled cluster approach with non-iterative perturbative treatment of triple excitations. The augmented correlation-consistent aug-cc-pVXZ (X = D,T,Q) basis sets were employed, and the energies obtained were then extrapolated to the complete basis set limit. The dipole moment surface was obtained using aug-cc-pVTZ basis set augmented with mid-bond functions for better description of exchange interactions. The second mixed virial coefficient was calculated and compared to available experimental data. The equilibrium constant for true dimer formation was calculated using classical partition function based on the knowledge of ab initio PES. Temperature variations of the zeroth spectral moment of the rototranslational collision-induced band as well as its true dimer constituent were traced with the use of the Boltzmann-weighted squared induced dipole properly integrated over respective phase space domains. Height profiles for N2-N2, N2-H2, CH4-N2, (CH4)2, and CH4-Ar true bound dimers in Titan's atmosphere were calculated with the use of reliable ab initio  PESs.

Multiproperty empirical isotropic interatomic potentials for CH4-inert gas mixtures

An approximate empirical isotropic interatomic potentials for CH₄–inert gas mixtures are developed by simultaneously fitting the Exponential-Spline-Morse-Spline-van der Waals (ESMSV) potential form to viscosity, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusion factors, diffusion coefficient, interaction second pressure virial coefficient and scattering cross-section data. Quantum mechanical lineshapes of collision-induced absorption (CIA) at different temperatures for CH₄–He and at T = 87 K for CH₄–Ar are computed using theoretical values for overlap, octopole and hexadecapole mechanisms and interaction potential as input. Also, the quantum mechanical lineshapes of collision-induced light scattering (CILS) for the mixtures CH₄–Ar and CH₄–Xe at room temperature are calculated. The spectra of scattering consist essentially of an intense, purely translational component which includes scattering due to free pairs and bound dimers, and the other is due to the induced rotational scattering. These spectra have been interpreted by means of pair-polarizability terms, which arise from a long-range dipole-induced-dipole (DID) with small dispersion corrections and a short-range interaction mechanism involving higher-order dipole–quadrupole A and dipole–octopole E multipole polarizabilities. Good agreement between computed and experimental lineshapes of both absorption and scattering is obtained when the models of potential, interaction-induced dipole and polarizability components are used.

PREDICTION OF THE TRANSPORT PROPERTIES OF SF6 WITH O2, CO2, CF4, N2 AND CH4 MIXTURES AT LOW DENSITY BY THE INVERSION METHOD (PART II)

Viscosity and diffusion coefficients for five equimolar binary gas mixtures of SF 6 with O 2, CO 2, CF 4, N 2 and CH 4 gases are determined from the extended principle of corresponding states of viscosity by the inversion technique. The Lennard–Jones 12-6 (LJ 12-6) potential energy function is used as the initial model potential required by the technique. The obtained interaction potential energies from the inversion procedure reproduce viscosity within 1% and diffusion coefficients within 5%.

Electronic spectroscopy of the deuterated isotopomers of the NO∙methane molecular complex

The molecular complexes formed between a nitric oxide molecule and the various deuterated isotopomers of the methane molecule have been studied in a supersonic jet expansion. The electronic spectrum arising from the transition corresponding to a 3s<--pi* excitation (approximately A (2)Sigma(+)<-- approximately X (2)Pi) located on the NO chromophore has been recorded employing resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy, with each of CH(4), CH(3)D, CH(2)D(2), CHD(3), and CD(4) as the complexing partner. Rich spectra are obtained, whose appearance changes in a systematic way as the amount of deuteration increases. Unexpectedly, it was possible to record spectra not only in the parent mass channel, but also in various fragment channels; this also led to the identification of some O atom resonances; and their origin is discussed. Discussion is presented of the structure in the spectra, and its possible sources including hindered internal rotation of the methane and NO moieties, overall rotation of the complex, and tunneling. In addition, some guidance has been gleaned from ab initio calculations, and these are discussed in the light of the experimental results.