Mechanisms for the far-infrared absorption in liquid methane

Abstract

The time correlation function for the induced dipole moment in liquid methane was computed from molecular dynamics computer simulations for a thermodynamic state at a temperature of 122.2 K and density of 25.34 mol/l. We included first-order induction mechanisms from the electric fields emanated by octupole and hexadecapole moments, their field gradients, as well as electronic superposition. The octupole-induced dipole represents the most important contribution to the far-infrared absorption spectrum. However, additional mechanisms are important for absorption in liquid methane. By comparing the computed absorption line shape with the experimental spectrum, we found a very satisfactory agreement between the two if we account for detailed balancing.