How symmetry helps to improve the estimation of the hyperfine splitting of torsional levels due to tunneling. The case of the HSSSH molecule

Abstract

In this study, we analyze a series of molecules belonging to the C2V(M) molecular symmetry group which are characterized by several conformers. The use of molecular symmetry at each stage of calculating the energy of stationary torsional states is demonstrated. In particular, the importance is shown of preliminary symmetrization of physical characteristics of the molecules obtained by quantum chemical calculations. For the first time, symmetry-adapted basis functions for the diagonal kinetic coefficients are presented, which for the analyzed molecules do not satisfy all symmetry operations of the C2V(M) group. Using the HSSSH molecule as an example, it is shown how the full or partial accounting for molecular symmetry influences the calculated values of ultra-small tunneling splittings of the ground torsional states of the trans- and cis-conformers. It has also been established that the Hamiltonian matrix is characterized by symmetry which, when taken into account, makes it possible to halve the time of calculation of its elements.