Ab initio anharmonic force field, spectroscopic parameters and equilibrium structure of trifluorosilane

Abstract

The quadratic, cubic and semidiagonal quartic force field of trifluorosilane has been calculated at the MP2 level of theory employing a basis set of polarized valence triple-zeta quality. This force field has been used to predict the spectroscopic constants, including the parameters specific of the double degenerate vibrational states. The calculated values are found to be in good agreement with the available experimental data, and explanations are offered for discrepancies. This confirms the accuracy of the ab initio force field and the validity of the theory of the reduction of the rovibrational Hamiltonian of a doubly degenerate vibrational state. The equilibrium structure has been derived from the experimental rotational constants and the ab initio rovibrational interaction parameters. This semiexperimental structure is in excellent agreement with the ab initio equilibrium geometry.