The rotational relaxation of NH(c 1Π) in collisions with Ar: A combined theoretical and experimental investigation

Ab initio investigation of the NH(X)-N2 van der Waals complex

The NH-N(2) van der Waals complex has been examined at the CCSD(T) level of theory using aug-cc-pVDZ and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets. The full basis set superposition error correction was applied. Two minimum energy structures were located for the electronic ground state. The global minimum corresponds to a linear geometry of the complex (NH-N-N), with D(e)=236 cm(-1) and R(c.m.)=4.22 A. The secondary minimum corresponds to a T-shaped geometry of C(2v) symmetry, where the nitrogen atom of the H-N moiety points toward the center of mass of the N(2) unit, aligned with the a-inertial axis of the complex. The binding energy and R(c.m.) value for the secondary minimum were 144 cm(-1) and 3.63 A, respectively. This potential energy surface is consistent with the properties of matrix-isolated NH-N(2), and it is predicted that linear NH-N(2) will be a stable complex in the gas phase at low temperatures.

Spectroscopic and theoretical characterization of the AΔ2-XΠ2 transition of CH–Ne

The A2delta-X2pi transition of CH-Ne was examined using laser-induced fluorescence and fluorescence depletion techniques. The spectrum was found to be particularly congested due to the large number of bound states derived from the CH(A,n=2)+Ne interaction, and the small energy spacings between these states resulting from the relatively weak anisotropy of the van der Waals bond. High-level ab initio calculations were used to generate two-dimensional potential energy surfaces for CH(X)-Ne and CH(A)-Ne. The equilibrium structures from these surfaces were bent and linear for the X and A states, respectively. Variational calculations were used to predict the bound states supported by the ab initio surfaces. Empirical modification of the potential energy surfaces for the A state was used to obtain energy-level predictions that were in good agreement with the experimental results. Transitions to all of the optically accessible internal rotor states of CH(A,n=2)-Ne were identified, indicating that CH performs hindered internal rotations in the lowest-energy levels of the A and X states. The characteristics of the potential energy surfaces for CH-Ne in the X,A,B, and C states suggest that dispersion and exchange repulsion forces dominate the van der Waals interaction.