Molecular rotations in vibronically coupled systems

Ultrafast Molecular Frame Quantum Tomography

We develop and experimentally demonstrate a methodology for a full molecular frame quantum tomography (MFQT) of dynamical polyatomic systems. We exemplify this approach through the complete characterization of an electronically nonadiabatic wave packet in ammonia (NH_{3}). The method exploits both energy and time-domain spectroscopic data, and yields the lab frame density matrix (LFDM) for the system, the elements of which are populations and coherences. The LFDM fully characterizes electronic and nuclear dynamics in the molecular frame, yielding the time- and orientation-angle dependent expectation values of any relevant operator. For example, the time-dependent molecular frame electronic probability density may be constructed, yielding information on electronic dynamics in the molecular frame. In NH_{3}, we observe that electronic coherences are induced by nuclear dynamics which nonadiabatically drive electronic motions (charge migration) in the molecular frame. Here, the nuclear dynamics are rotational and it is nonadiabatic Coriolis coupling which drives the coherences. Interestingly, the nuclear-driven electronic coherence is preserved over longer timescales. In general, MFQT can help quantify entanglement between electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom, and provide new routes to the study of ultrafast molecular dynamics, charge migration, quantum information processing, and optimal control schemes.

A laboratory frame density matrix for ultrafast quantum molecular dynamics

In most cases, the ultrafast dynamics of resonantly excited molecules are considered and almost always computed in the molecular frame, while experiments are carried out in the laboratory frame. Here, we provide a formalism in terms of a lab frame density matrix, which connects quantum dynamics in the molecular frame to those in the laboratory frame, providing a transparent link between computation and measurement. The formalism reveals that in any such experiment, the molecular frame dynamics vary for molecules in different orientations and that certain coherences, which are potentially experimentally accessible, are rejected by the orientation-averaged reduced vibronic density matrix. Instead, molecular angular distribution moments are introduced as a more accurate representation of experimentally accessible information. Furthermore, the formalism provides a clear definition of a molecular frame quantum tomography and specifies the requirements to perform such a measurement enabling the experimental imaging of molecular frame vibronic dynamics. Successful completion of such a measurement fully characterizes the molecular frame quantum dynamics for a molecule at any orientation in the laboratory frame.

Jahn-Teller effect in tetrahedral symmetry: Large-amplitude tunneling motion and rovibronic structure of CH4+ and CD4+

The energy level structures of the ground vibronic states of 12CH4+, 13CH4+, and 12CD4+ have been measured by pulsed-field-ionization zero-kinetic-energy photoelectron spectroscopy. The nuclear spin symmetries of the tunneling-rotational levels have been determined in double-resonance experiments via selected rotational levels of the v3=1 and v3=2 vibrational levels of the X 1A1 ground state of CH4. The energy level structures of 12CH4+, 13CH4+, and 12CD4+ have been analyzed with an effective tunneling-rotational Hamiltonian. The analysis together with a group theoretical treatment of the Tx(e+t2) Jahn-Teller effect in the Td(M) group prove that the equilibrium geometry of 12CH4+, 13CH4+, and 12CD4+ has C2v symmetry and characterize the pseudorotational dynamics in these fluxional cations. The tunneling behavior is discussed in terms of the relevant properties of the potential energy surface, some of which have been recalculated at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ level of ab initio theory.

Cyclic-N3. II. Significant geometric phase effects in the vibrational spectra

An accurate theoretical prediction of the vibrational spectra for a pure nitrogen ring (cyclic-N(3)) molecule is obtained up to the energy of the (2)A(2)/(2)B(1) conical intersection. A coupled-channel approach using the hyperspherical coordinates and the recently published ab initio potential energy surface [D. Babikov, P. Zhang, and K. Morokuma, J. Chem. Phys. 121, 6743 (2004)] is employed. Two independent sets of calculations are reported: In the first set, the standard Born-Oppenheimer approximation is used and the geometric phase effects are totally neglected. In the second set, the generalized Born-Oppenhimer approximation is used and the geometric phase effects due to the D(3h) conical intersection are accurately treated. All vibrational states are analyzed and assigned in terms of the normal vibration mode quantum numbers. The magnitude of the geometric phase effect is determined for each state. One important finding is an unusually large magnitude of the geometric phase effects in the cyclic-N(3): it is approximately 100 cm(-1) for the low-lying vibrational states and exceeds 600 cm(-1) for several upper states. On average, this is almost two orders of magnitude larger than in the previously reported studies. This unique example suggests a favorable path to experimental validation.

Cyclic-N3. I. An accurate potential energy surface for the ground doublet electronic state up to the energy of the 2A2/2B1 conical intersection

A sophisticated adiabatic ground electronic state potential energy surface for a pure nitrogen ring (cyclic-N3) molecule is constructed based on extensive high-level ab initio calculations and accurate three-dimensional spline representation. Most of the important features of the potential energy surface are presented using various reduced dimensionality slices in internal hyperspherical coordinates as well as full dimensional isoenergy surfaces. Very significant geometric phase effects are predicted in the spectra of rotational-vibrational states of cyclic-N3.

Extremely narrow peaks in predissociation of sodium dimer due to rovibronic coupling

In sodium dimer the 2 (3)Pi(g), 3 (3)Pi(g), and 4 (3)Sigma(g) (+) electronic states are coupled; the coupling of the two (3)Pi(g) states is due to vibrational motion while the nonadiabatic interaction between the (3)Sigma(g) (+) and the (3)Pi(g) states-in particular, the 3 (3)Pi(g) state-is mediated by rotational interaction. The resulting vibronic problem is studied in some detail. The bound vibrational states of the 3 (3)Pi(g) and 4 (3)Pi(g) (+) states lie in the dissociation continuum of the 2 (3)Pi(g) state and become resonances due to the prevailing nonadiabatic coupling. The resonances are calculated using the complex scaling method and the available ab initio adiabatic potential energy curves. It is demonstrated that the resonances associated with rotational nonadiabatic coupling are narrower by several orders of magnitude than those that emerge from the vibrational nonadiabatic coupling. The predissociation cross section is computed and compared with experiment.

BEYOND BORN-OPPENHEIMER: Molecular Dynamics Through a Conical Intersection

Nonadiabatic effects play an important role in many areas of physics and chemistry. The coupling between electrons and nuclei may, for example, lead to the formation of a conical intersection between potential energy surfaces, which provides an efficient pathway for radiationless decay between electronic states. At such intersections the Born-Oppenheimer approximation breaks down, and unexpected dynamical processes result, which can be observed spectroscopically. We review the basic theory required to understand and describe conical, and related, intersections. A simple model is presented, which can be used to classify the different types of intersections known. An example is also given using wavepacket dynamics simulations to demonstrate the prototypical features of how a molecular system passes through a conical intersection.