Prediction of the existence of the N2H- molecular anion

Predissociation spectra of the 35Cl-(H2) complex and its isotopologue 35Cl-(D2)

The predissociation spectra of the 35Cl-(H2) and 35Cl-(D2) complexes are determined within an accurate quantum approach and compared to those recently measured in an ionic trap at 8 K and 22 K. The calculations are performed using an existing three-dimensional potential energy surface. A variational approach is used for the accurate quantum calculations of the rovibrational bound states. Several methods are compared for the search and the characterization of the resonant states. A good agreement between the calculated and measured spectra is obtained, despite a slight shift to the red of the calculated spectra. The comparison shows that only the ortho or para contribution is observed in the measured 35Cl-(H2) or 35Cl-(D2) spectrum, respectively. Quantum numbers are assigned to the rovibrational resonant states. It demonstrates that the main features observed in the measured predissociation spectra correspond to a progression in the intermonomer vibrational stretching mode.

Characterization and reactivity of the weakly bound complexes of the [H, N, S](-) anionic system with astrophysical and biological implications

We investigate the lowest electronic states of doublet and quartet spin multiplicity states of HNS(-) and HSN(-) together with their parent neutral triatomic molecules. Computations were performed using highly accurate ab initio methods with a large basis set. One-dimensional cuts of the full-dimensional potential energy surfaces (PESs) along the interatomic distances and bending angle are presented for each isomer. Results show that the ground anionic states are stable with respect to the electron detachment process and that the long range parts of the PESs correlating to the SH(-) + N, SN(-) + H, SN + H(-), NH + S(-), and NH(-) + S are bound. In addition, we predict the existence of long-lived weakly bound anionic complexes that can be formed after cold collisions between SN(-) and H or SH(-) and N. The implications for the reactivity of these species are discussed; specifically, it is shown that the reactions involving SH(-), SN(-), and NH(-) lead either to the formation of HNS(-) or HSN(-) in their electronic ground states or to autodetachment processes. Thus, providing an explanation for why the anions, SH(-), SN(-), and NH(-), have limiting detectability in astrophysical media despite the observation of their corresponding neutral species. In a biological context, we suggest that HSN(-) and HNS(-) should be incorporated into H2S-assisted heme-catalyzed reduction mechanism of nitrites in vivo.

A new theoretical method for calculating the radiative association cross section of a triatomic molecule: application to N2-H-

We present a new theoretical method to treat the atom-diatom radiative association within a time independent approach. This method is an adaptation of the driven equations method developed for photodissociation. The bound state energies and wave functions of the molecule are calculated exactly and used to propagate the overlap with the initial scattering wave function. In the second part of this paper, this approach is applied to the radiative association of the N2H(-) anion. The main features of the radiative association cross sections are analysed and the magnitude of the calculated rate coefficient at 10 K is used to discuss the existence of the N2H(-) in the interstellar medium which could be used as a tracer of both N2 and H(-).