Structure and dynamics of small I2 . . . Hen van der Waals clusters (n=1–9)

Computational Modeling: Up-to-Date Approaches and Cutting-Edge Applications from Clusters, Nanostructures to Bulk Systems

The contributions in this special theme collection, in honor to Prof. P. Villarreal, cover a broad variety of computational methodologies and experimental techniques, containing studies on gas phase, clusters and condensed phase systems.

Effect of the intermolecular excitation in the vibrational predissociation dynamics of van der Waals complexes and the implications for control

The effect of intermolecular excitation on the vibrational predissociation lifetime is investigated systematically for different vdW complexes Rg-X2(B, v') (Rg = rare gas atom, X = halogen atom) by means of wave packet simulations. The lifetime as a function of intermolecular excitation displays a pattern of maxima and minima, with a similar shape for the different Rg-X2(B, v') complexes. The pattern is consistent with previous experimental findings involving lifetimes of intermolecular excitations in similar systems. The structure of the lifetime pattern is found to be determined by the shape of the resonance wave functions in the two van der Waals degrees of freedom, and more specifically by the magnitude of the overlap between the wave function and the coupling responsible for predissociation. Lifetime maxima and minima are associated with minima and maxima of this overlap, respectively. Implications for control of the complex lifetime are discussed.

Vibrational predissociation dynamics of Cl2(B)-He2: a wave packet study

The vibrational predissociation of Cl(2)(B)-He(2) has been studied using a full dimensional wave packet method. The aim is to investigate the effect of increasing the grid size in the dissociative coordinates and the propagation time, on the convergence of observable magnitudes like predissociation lifetimes and Cl(2) product vibrational and rotational distributions. In particular, convergence of vibrational distributions is significantly affected by an artifact caused by the use of finite grids and absorbing conditions for the wave packet, combined with the presence of a sequential dissociation process. The results show that the lifetimes and the Cl(2)(B) rotational distributions are not greatly affected by increasing propagation time and grid size. However, convergence of the Cl(2) vibrational distribution is very slow, and the strategy of converging this property by increasing the grid size becomes impractical. An approximate model to estimate the Cl(2) vibrational populations is suggested, which is found to provide realistic distributions as compared with the available experimental ones. The main feature of the model is that its assumptions are closely based on the nature of the vibrational predissociation process occurring in the type of complexes. This feature of the model, in addition to its simplicity of implementation and negligible extra computational cost, contributes to the general applicability of the approach to BC(B)-Rg(2) complexes.

Vibrational predissociation dynamics of He-I2(B) mediated by orbiting resonances

The He-I(2)(B, v) resonances embedded in the continuum of the v = 60 and 59 vibrational manifolds are investigated. Such states manifest a nature of overlapping and long-lived orbiting resonances, which are supported by centrifugal barriers originated in internal rotational excitation of I(2) and He within the complex. The same number of orbiting resonances, six, is found for v = 60 and for v = 59, with similar energy positions and wave functions, indicating that the spectrum of orbiting resonances changes slowly with the vibrational state v. Three of the orbiting resonances appear at nearly the same energies as the peaks observed experimentally in the vibrational relaxation cross section of I(2)(B, v = 21) through low temperature collisions with He. Such finding suggests that the cross section peaks have their origin in orbiting resonances of the He-I(2)(B, v = 21) complex formed upon the collision.

An empirical potential energy surface for the He-Br2 (B3pi(u)) van der Waals complex

An empirical potential energy surface is proposed for the He-Br2 (B3pi(u)) complex. The intermolecular potential is modeled as a sum of pairwise He-Br Morse interactions plus a three-body interaction term. The parameters of the potential are fitted in order to reproduce the spectral blue-shifts and vibrational predissociation line widths measured for He-79Br2 (B, v') in the range v' = 8-48 of Br2 vibrational excitations. The calculated blue-shifts and line widths are in very good agreement with the measurements (typically within experimental error or close to its limits) along the whole range of v' levels studied. It is particularly remarkable to note the accuracy provided by the interaction surface in the region of high v' excitations (v' > 35), where three-body effects become important. The behavior of the potential surface with the Br-Br separation is analyzed and correlated with the experimental findings.

A full-dimensional quantum dynamical approach to the vibrational predissociation of Cl2–He2

A full-dimensional, fully coupled wave packet method is proposed and applied to investigate the vibrational predissociation dynamics of the Cl2(B,v')-He2 complex. Simulations are carried out for the resonance states associated with the v'=10-13 initial vibrational excitations of Cl2, and the results are compared with the available experimental data. A good agreement with experiment is achieved for the resonance lifetimes (typically within experimental error) and the Cl(2) fragment rotational distributions. The mechanism of dissociation of the two He atoms is found to be dominantly sequential, through the Deltav'= -2 channel. The probabilities obtained for the Deltav'= -1 dissociation channel are, however, overestimated due to the use of absorbing boundary conditions combined with finite grid effects. It is suggested that a mechanism of energy redistribution through the couplings between the van der Waals modes of the two weak bonds takes place in the Deltav'= -1 dissociation. This mechanism is consistent with the resonance lifetimes and Cl2 rotational distributions predicted. The favorable comparison with most of the experimental data supports the reliability of the potential used to model Cl2(B,v')-He2, at least in the present range of v' levels.

Mixed quantum-classical treatment of vibrational decoherence

The mixed quantum-classical method based on the Bohmian formulation of quantum mechanics [J. Chem. Phys. 113, 9369 (2000)]] is applied to study the process of vibrational decoherence of I2 in a dense helium environment. Specifically, the revival of vibrational wave packets, detectable by pump-probe spectroscopy, is a quantum phenomena which depends sensitively on the coherence between the vibrational levels excited by the pump pulse. The time-dependent pump-probe revival signal is a very sensitive way of detecting vibrational dephasing induced by an environment. The very good agreement between previous experimental signals and calculations presented in ths work confirms the theoretical approach and provides a promising basis for the prediction and interpretation of future experiments exploiting quantum revivals as a probe of decoherence.

Femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy of I2 in a dense rare gas environment: A mixed quantum/classical study of vibrational decoherence

The process of decoherence of vibrational states of I2 in a dense helium environment is studied theoretically using the mixed quantum/classical method based on the Bohmian formulation of quantum mechanics [E. Gindensperger, C. Meier, and J. A. Beswick, J. Chem. Phys. 113, 9369 (2000)]. Specifically, the revival of vibrational wave packets is a quantum phenomena which depends sensitively on the coherence between the vibrational states excited by an ultrafast laser pulse. Its detection by a pump-probe setup as a function of rare gas pressure forms a very accurate way of detecting vibrational dephasing. Vibrational revivals of I2 in high pressure rare gas environments have been observed experimentally, and the very good agreement with the simulated spectra confirms that the method can accurately describe decoherence processes of quantum systems in interaction with an environment.