Infrared spectra of the (N2)2 and N2–Ar van der Waals molecules

Future of computational molecular spectroscopy-from supporting interpretation to leading the innovation

Molecular spectroscopy measures transitions between discrete molecular energies which follow quantum mechanics. Structural information of a molecule is encoded in the spectra, which can be only decoded using quantum mechanics and therefore computational molecular spectroscopy becomes essential. In this review perspective, the role evolution of computational molecular spectroscopy has been discussed with several joint theory and experiment spectroscopic studies in the past decades, which includes rotational (microwave), vibrational and electronic spectroscopy (valence and core) of molecules. With the development in high resolution and computerized synchrotron sourced spectroscopy, spectral measurements and computational molecular spectroscopy need to be integrated for materials development. Contemporary computational molecular spectroscopy is, therefore, more than merely supporting interpretation but leading the innovation. Future development of molecular spectroscopy lies to identify the niche to integrate experimental and computational molecular spectroscopy. It also requires to engineer molecular spectroscopic databases that function according to the universal approaches of computing, such as those in a Turing machine, to be realized in a chemical and/or spectroscopic programable manner (digital twinning research) in the future.

Periodic Dispersion-Corrected Approach for Isolation Spectroscopy of N2 in an Argon Environment: Clusters, Surfaces, and Matrices

Ab initio and Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof (PBE) density functional theory with dispersion correction (PBE-D3) calculations are performed to study N₂-Ar_n (n ≤ 3) complexes and N₂ trapped in Ar matrix (i.e., N₂@Ar). For cluster computations, we used both Møller-Plesset (MP2) and PBE-D3 methods. For N₂@Ar, we used a periodic-dispersion corrected model for Ar matrix, which consists on a slab of four layers of Ar atoms. We determined the equilibrium structures and binding energies of N₂ interacting with these entities. We also deduced the N₂ vibrational frequency shifts caused by clustering or embedding compared to an isolated N₂ molecule. Upon complexation or embedding, the vibrational frequency of N₂ is slightly shifted, while its equilibrium distance remains unchanged. This is due to the weak interactions between N₂ and Ar within these compounds. Our calculations show the importance of inclusion of dispersion effects for the accurate description of geometrical and spectroscopic parameters of N₂ isolated, in interaction with Ar surfaces, or trapped in Ar matrices.

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.

New exchange-Coulomb N2-Ar potential-energy surface and its comparison with other recent N2-Ar potential-energy surfaces

The reliability of five N2-Ar potential-energy surfaces in representing the N2-Ar interaction has been investigated by comparing their abilities to reproduce a variety of experimental results, including interaction second viral coefficients, bulk transport properties, relaxation phenomena, differential scattering cross sections, and the microwave and infrared spectra of the van der Waals complexes. Four of the surfaces are the result of high-level ab initio quantal calculations; one of them utilized fine tuning by fitting to microwave data. To date, these four potential-energy surfaces have only been tested against experimental microwave data. The fifth potential-energy surface, based upon the exchange-Coulomb potential-energy model for the interaction of closed-shell species, is developed herein: it is a combination of a damped dispersion energy series and ab initio calculations of the Heitler-London interaction energy, and has adjustable parameters determined by requiring essentially simultaneous agreement with selected quality interaction second viral coefficient and microwave data. Comparisons are also made with the predictions of three other very good literature potential-energy surfaces, including the precursor of the new exchange-Coulomb potential-energy surface developed here. Based upon an analysis of a large body of information, the new exchange-Coulomb and microwave-tuned ab initio potential-energy surfaces provide the best representations of the N2-Ar interaction; nevertheless, the other potential-energy surfaces examined still have considerable merit with respect to the prediction of specific properties of the N2-Ar van der Waals complex. Of the two recommended surfaces, the new exchange-Coulomb surface is preferred on balance due to its superior predictions of the effective cross sections related to various relaxation phenomena, and to its reliable, and relatively simple, representation of the long-range part of the potential-energy surface. Moreover, the flexibility still inherent in the exchange-Coulomb potential form can be further exploited, if required, in future studies of the N2-Ar interaction.

Intensity and Bandshapes of Collision-Induced Absorption by CO(2) in the Region of the Fermi Doublet

The carbon dioxide dimer spectroscopic patterns are retrieved from the analysis of collision-induced absorption (CIA) spectral bandshape at room temperature. It is shown that the use of the simplified model based on the symmetric-top approximation allows roughly consistent simulation of the observed (CO(2))(2) dimer spectrum. The rotational constants obtained can be considered as effective thermally averaged constants which characterize dimeric structure, strongly distorted from the ground state. The overall CIA bandshape and the integrated intensity of absorption are broken down into partial contributions from tightly bound and metastable dimers and free-pair states. This approach is shown to be in agreement with a wide range of independent spectroscopic and thermodynamic data. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Collision-Induced Absorption by CO2 in the Region of nu1, 2nu2

Collision-induced absorption (CIA) by CO2 is measured in the 1100-1600 cm-1 range using a Fourier-transform spectrometer with a resolution of 0.5 cm-1. The current measurements, which agree well with previous ones but are more precise, reveal pronounced structures on top of both unresolved Fermi doublet bands consisting of P-, Q-, and R-like branches. Assignment of Q-branches at 1284.75 cm-1 and 1387.75 cm-1 to (CO2)2 dimers seems highly probable. The nature of other peaks observed in CIA and Raman spectra of the CO2 Fermi doublet region is discussed. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Infrared collision-induced absorption by N(2) near 4.3 μm for atmospheric applications: measurements and empirical modeling

Accurate measurements of collision-induced absorption by pure nitrogen in the fundamental band near 4.3 μm have been made in the 0-10 atm and 230-300 K pressure and temperature ranges, respectively. A Fourier-transform spectrometer was used with a resolution of 0.5 cm(-1). The current measurements, which agree well with previous ones but are more precise, reveal that weak features are superimposed on the broad N(2) continuum. These features have negligible temperature dependence, and their origin is not clear at the present time. Available experimental data in the 190-300 K temperature range have been used to build a simple empirical model that is suitable for use to compute atmospheric N(2) absorption. Tests indicate that this model is accurate unlike the estimates produced by widely used atmospheric transmission codes.

Transmission window near 2400 cm(-1): an experimental and modeling study

The absorption in the 2400-cm(-1) region is dominated by continuum absorptions from carbon dioxide and nitrogen, and it is important to be able to describe the temperature dependence of these two continua. A series of measurements of atmospheric transmission over a 5.7-km range were carried out during the summer and winter seasons of 1988. Following a brief description of the experiments a selected number of spectra, covering the temperature range from -21.4 to 30.3 degrees C, are presented. These measurements are compared with predictions by the atmospheric transmission model FASCOD2 and modified versions using models of the carbon dioxide and the nitrogen continua derived from experimental laboratory measurements. Finally, an improved temperature-dependent model for the nitrogen continuum is derived from atmospheric transmission measurements. The model covers the range of temperatures found in the troposphere and differs significantly from laboratory-based measurements.