The calculation of isotopic partition function ratios by a perturbation theory technique

Abstract

The vibrational Hamiltonian of a molecule in the harmonic approximation, H = (1/2) 𝒥 (gijpipj + fijqiqj), has been divided into a diagonal part (terms with i=j) and an off-diagonal part (i≠j), which is regarded as the perturbation. The vibrational partition function of the molecule is then calculated by Schwinger perturbation theory as the partition function of the unperturbed problem, corresponding to a collection of oscillators with frequencies 2πνi′ = (fiigii)1/2, plus perturbation correction terms which are calculated to second order. With the usual assumptions of isotope effect calculations that the molecular translations and rotations are classical and separable from the vibrations, the perturbation formulation of the vibrational partition function is easily transformed into a perturbation theory formulation of (reduced) isotopic partition function ratios. If, for example, the molecular potential function is expressed in terms of the displacements of bond stretches and bond angle bends from their respective equilibrium values, the unperturbed partition function ratio corresponds to the isotope effect expected for noninteracting bond-stretch and bond-angle-bend oscillators. Detailed comparison is made for a number of molecular systems of perturbation theory calculations of partition functions and isotopic partition function ratios with exact calculations carried out by actually obtaining the normal mode vibrational frequencies of the vibrational Hamiltonian. Good agreement is found. The utility of the perturbation theory formulation resides in the fact that it permits one to look at isotope effects in a very simple manner; some demonstrations are given.