Ab Initio Potential Energy Calculations Research Articles

Effect of Methylation on the Photodynamical Behavior of Arylazoimidazoles: New Insight from Theoretical ab Initio Potential Energy Calculations and Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Arylazoimidazoles are a series of azobenzene derivatives possessing the ability to undergo photoinduced trans-cis isomerization. Their isomerization quantum yields are found to be dependent on the excitation wavelength and chemical substituents. The current work investigated the ultrafast nonadiabatic decay behaviors of three arylazoimidazoles (Pai-H, Tai-H, and Tai-Me) after being photoexcited to the S1 and S2 states by means of high-level ab initio potential energy calculations and on-the-fly surface hopping dynamical simulations in gas phase to explore the effect of the methylation. The results found that the Pai-H with no methylation substituents only decay along a NNC bending reaction pathway for both the S1 and S2 states. The Tai-H with a methylation substituent on the six-membered ring can decay along both the NNC bending and twisting motion pathways for the S1 and S2 states. The Tai-Me has methylation substituents on both the six- and five-membered rings prefers to decay by a twisting motion in the S1 state, while a NNC bending channel is activated following excitation to the S2 state. The position and numbers of methylation substituents has important influence on the dynamical behaviors of arylazoimidazoles. The current work provides fundamental knowledge of the arylazoimidazoles and will be helpful for advanced and further exploration and application.

Production of B atoms and BH radicals from B2H6/He/H2 mixtures activated on heated W wires.

B atoms and BH radicals could be identified by laser-induced fluorescence when B2H6/He/H2 mixtures were activated on heated tungsten wires. The densities of these radical species increased not only with the wire temperature but also with the partial pressure of H2. The densities in the presence of 0.026 Pa of B2H6 and 2.6 Pa of H2 were on the order of 10(11) cm(-3) both for B and BH when the wire temperature was 2000 K. Densities in the absence of a H2 flow were much smaller, suggesting that the direct production of these species on wire surfaces is minor. B and BH must be produced in the H atom shifting reactions, BH(x) + H → BH(x-1) + H2 (x = 1-3), in the gas phase, while H atoms are produced from H2 on wire surfaces. The B atom density increased monotonously with the H atom density, while the BH density showed saturation. These tendencies could be reproduced by simple modeling based on ab initio potential energy calculations and the transition-state theoretical calculations of the rate constants. The absolute densities could also be reproduced within a factor of 2.5.

Photophysics of cytosine tautomers: new insights into the nonradiative decay mechanisms from MS-CASPT2 potential energy calculations and excited-state molecular dynamics simulations

A comprehensive picture of the ultrafast nonradiative decay mechanisms of three cytosine tautomers (amino-keto, imino-keto, and amino-enol forms) is revealed by high-level ab initio potential energy calculations using the multistate (MS) CASPT2 method and also by on-the-fly excited-state molecular dynamics simulations employing the CASSCF method. To obtain a reliable potential energy profile along the deactivation pathways, the MS-CASPT2 method is employed even for the optimization of minimum energy structures in the excited state and conical intersection (CI) structures between the ground and excited states. In the imino (imino-keto) form, we locate a new CI structure involving the twisting of the imino group, and the decay pathway leading to this CI is found to be barrierless, suggesting a remarkably efficient deactivation of imino cytosine. In the keto (amino-keto) form, the MS-CASPT2 calculations exhibit an efficient decay path to the ethylene-like CI involving the twisting of the C-C double bond in the six-membered ring, with a barrier of ∼0.08 eV from the minimum of the (1)ππ* state. In the enol (amino-enol) form, three types of CIs are identified for the first time. Among them, the ethylene-like CI with a similar molecular structure to the keto form provides the most preferred deactivation pathway in enol cytosine. This pathway exhibits a higher barrier of ∼0.22 eV and a higher energy of CI than those of keto cytosine. Nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations provide a time-dependent picture of the deactivation processes, including the excited-state lifetime of each tautomer. In particular, the decay time of the imino tautomer is predicted to be only ∼100 fs. Our computational results are in remarkably good agreement with the experimental findings of recent femtosecond pump-probe photoionization spectroscopy [J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2009, 131, 16939; J. Phys. Chem. A, 2011, 115, 8406], supporting the coexistence of more than one tautomer in the photophysics of isolated cytosine and that each tautomer exhibits a different excited-state lifetime.

Potential energy surface and rovibrational energy levels of the H2-CS van der Waals complex

Owing to its large dipole, astrophysicists use carbon monosulfide (CS) as a tracer of molecular gas in the interstellar medium, often in regions where H(2) is the most abundant collider. Predictions of the rovibrational energy levels of the weakly bound complex CS-H(2) (not yet observed) and also of rate coefficients for rotational transitions of CS in collision with H(2) should help to interpret the observed spectra. This paper deals with the first goal, i.e., the calculation of the rovibrational energy levels. A new four-dimensional intermolecular potential energy surface for the H(2)-CS complex is presented. Ab initio potential energy calculations were carried out at the coupled-cluster level with single and double excitations and a perturbative treatment of triple excitations, using a quadruple-zeta basis set and midbond functions. The potential energy surface was obtained by an analytic fit of the ab initio data. The equilibrium structure of the H(2)-CS complex is found to be linear with the carbon pointing toward H(2) at the intermolecular separation of 8.6 a(o). The corresponding well depth is -173 cm(-1). The potential was used to calculate the rovibrational energy levels of the para-H(2)-CS and ortho-H(2)-CS complexes. The present work provides the first theoretical predictions of these levels. The calculated dissociation energies are found to be 35.9 cm(-1) and 49.9 cm(-1), respectively, for the para and ortho complexes. The second virial coefficient for the H(2)-CS pair has also been calculated for a large range of temperature. These results could be used to assign future experimental spectra and to check the accuracy of the potential energy surface.

Molecular elimination of Br2 in photodissociation of CH2BrC(O)Br at 248 nm using cavity ring-down absorption spectroscopy

The primary elimination channel of bromine molecule in one-photon dissociation of CH(2)BrC(O)Br at 248 nm is investigated using cavity ring-down absorption spectroscopy. By means of spectral simulation, the ratio of nascent vibrational population in v = 0, 1, and 2 levels is evaluated to be 1:(0.5 ± 0.1):(0.2 ± 0.1), corresponding to a Boltzmann vibrational temperature of 581 ± 45 K. The quantum yield of the ground state Br(2) elimination reaction is determined to be 0.24 ± 0.08. With the aid of ab initio potential energy calculations, the obtained Br(2) fragments are anticipated to dissociate on the electronic ground state, yielding vibrationally hot Br(2) products. The temperature-dependence measurements support the proposed pathway via internal conversion. For comparison, the Br(2) yields are obtained analogously from CH(3)CHBrC(O)Br and (CH(3))(2)CBrC(O)Br to be 0.03 and 0.06, respectively. The trend of Br(2) yields among the three compounds is consistent with the branching ratio evaluation by Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus method. However, the latter result for each molecule is smaller by an order of magnitude than the yield findings. A non-statistical pathway so-called roaming process might be an alternative to the Br(2) production, and its contribution might account for the underestimate of the branching ratio calculations.

Br2 molecular elimination in photolysis of (COBr)2 at 248 nm by using cavity ring-down absorption spectroscopy: A photodissociation channel being ignored

A primary dissociation channel of Br(2) elimination is detected following a single-photon absorption of (COBr)(2) at 248 nm by using cavity ring-down absorption spectroscopy. The technique contains two laser beams propagating in a perpendicular configuration. The tunable laser beam along the axis of the ring-down cell probes the Br(2) fragment in the B(3)Π(ou)(+)-X(1)Σ(g)(+) transition. The measurements of laser energy- and pressure-dependence and addition of a Br scavenger are further carried out to rule out the probability of Br(2) contribution from a secondary reaction. By means of spectral simulation, the ratio of nascent vibrational population for v = 0, 1, and 2 levels is evaluated to be 1:(0.65 ± 0.09):(0.34 ± 0.07), corresponding to a Boltzmann vibrational temperature of 893 ± 31 K. The quantum yield of the ground state Br(2) elimination reaction is determined to be 0.11 ± 0.06. With the aid of ab initio potential energy calculations, the pathway of molecular elimination is proposed on the energetic ground state (COBr)(2) via internal conversion. A four-center dissociation mechanism is followed synchronously or sequentially yielding three fragments of Br(2) + 2CO. The resulting Br(2) is anticipated to be vibrationally hot. The measurement of a positive temperature effect supports the proposed mechanism.

Vibrational and rotational cooling of NO+ in collisions with He

A quantum mechanical investigation of the vibrational and rotational deactivation of NO(+) in collisions with He atoms in the cold and ultracold regime is presented. Ab initio potential energy calculations are carried out at BCCD(T) level and a new global 3D potential energy surface (PES) is obtained by fitting ab initio points within the reproducing kernel Hilbert space method. As a first test of this PES the bound state energies of the (3)He-NO(+) and (4)He-NO(+) complexes are calculated and compared to previous rigid rotor calculations. The efficiency of the vibrational and the rotational cooling of this molecular ion using a buffer gas of helium is then investigated by performing close coupling scattering calculations for collision energy ranging from 10(-6) to 2000 cm(-1). The calculations are performed for the two isotopes (3)He and (4)He and the results are compared to the available experimental data.

I2 molecular elimination in single-photon dissociation of CH2I2 at 248 nm by using cavity ring-down absorption spectroscopy

Following single-photon dissociation of CH(2)I(2) at 248 nm, I(2) molecular elimination is detected by using cavity ring-down absorption spectroscopy. The technique comprises two laser beams propagating in a perpendicular configuration, in which a tunable laser beam along the axis of the ring-down cell probes the I(2) fragment in the B (3)Π(ou)(+) - X (1)Σ(g)(+) transition. The nascent vibrational populations for v = 0, 1, and 2 levels are obtained with a population ratio of 1:(0.65 ± 0.10):(0.30 ± 0.05), corresponding to a Boltzmann-like vibrational temperature of 544 ± 73 K. The quantum yield of the ground state I(2) elimination reaction is determined to be 0.0040 ± 0.0025. With the aid of ab initio potential energy calculations, the pathway of molecular elimination is proposed on the energetic ground state CH(2)I(2) via internal conversion, followed by asynchronous three-center dissociation. A positive temperature effect supports the proposed mechanism.

Photodissociation of dibromoethanes at 248 nm: An ignored channel of Br2 elimination

Br(2) molecular elimination is probed in the photodissociation of 1,1- and 1,2-C(2)H(4)Br(2) isomeric forms at 248 nm by using cavity ring-down absorption spectroscopy. Their photodissociation processes differ markedly from each other. The quantum yield of the Br(2) fragment in 1,2-dibromoethane is 0.36+/-0.18, in contrast to a value of 0.05+/-0.03 in 1,1-dibromoethane. The vibrational population ratios of Br(2)(v=1)/Br(2)(v=0) are 0.8+/-0.1 and 0.5+/-0.2 for 1,2- and 1,1-dibromoethanes, respectively. The Br(2) yield densities are found to increase by a factor of 35% and 190% for 1,2- and 1,1-dibromoethanes within the same temperature increment. In the ab initio potential energy calculations, the transition state (TS) along the adiabatic ground state surface may correlate to the Br(2) products. The TS energy for 1,2-dibromoethane is well below the excitation energy at 483 kJ/mol, whereas that for 1,1-dibromoethane is slightly above. Such a small TS energy barrier impedes the photodissociation of the ground state 1,1-dibromoethane such that the production yield of Br(2) may become relatively low, but rise rapidly with the temperature. The TS structure shows a larger bond distance of Br-Br in 1,2-dibromoethane than that in 1,1-dibromoethane. That explains why the former isomer may result in hotter vibrational population of the Br(2) fragments.

Probing the Ignored Elimination Channel of Br2 in the 248 nm Photodissociation of 1,1‐Dibromoethylene by Cavity Ring‐Down Absorption Spectroscopy

In the photodissociation of 1,1-C(2)H(2)Br(2) at 248 nm, the Br(2) elimination channel is probed by using cavity ring-down absorption spectroscopy (CRDS). In terms of spectral simulation, the vibrational population ratio of Br(2)(v = 1)/Br(2)(v = 0) is found to be 0.55+/-0.05, which indicates that the Br(2) fragment is vibrationally hot. The rotational population is thermally equilibrated with a Boltzmann temperature of 349+/-38 K. According to ab initio potential energy calculations, the obtained fragments are anticipated to result primarily from photodissociation of the ground electronic state that undergoes 1) H migration followed by three-center elimination, and 2) isomerization forming either trans- or cis-1,2-C(2)H(2)Br(2) from which Br(2) is eliminated. RRKM calculations predict that the Br(2) dissociation rates through the ground singlet state prevail over those through the triplet state. Measurements of temperature and Ar pressure dependence are examined to support the proposed pathway via internal conversion. The quantum yield for the Br(2) elimination reaction is determined to be 0.07+/-0.04. This result is smaller than that obtained in 1,2-C(2)H(2)Br(2), probably because the dissociation rates are slowed in the isomerization stage.

Rotational relaxation of HF by collision with ortho- and para-H2 molecules

The first quantum mechanical investigation of the rotational deactivation of HF induced by collisions with ortho- and para-H(2) molecules is reported. Ab initio potential energy calculations are carried out at the coupled cluster level with single and double excitations, using a quadruple-zeta basis set. The global rigid rotor four-dimensional potential energy surface is obtained by fitting ab initio points with a least squares procedure for the angular terms and interpolating the radial coefficients with cubic splines. It is shown that the equilibrium structure of the H(2)-HF complex is T-shaped and the well depth is found to be 359 cm(-1). Close coupling scattering calculations are performed at collision energy ranging from 10(-2) to 1600 cm(-1). A comparison of the rotational quenching of HF with para-H(2) and (4)He is used to validate our potential energy surface. The rotational quenching cross sections of HF by ortho- and para-H(2) are also compared and found to be very different. An explanation of these differences based on a resonance mechanism is proposed.

Photodissociation of 1,2‐Dibromoethylene at 248 nm: Br2 Molecular Elimination Probed by Cavity Ring‐Down Absorption Spectroscopy

The Br2 elimination channel is probed for 1,2-C2H2Br2 in the B(3)Pi(+)ou-X(1)Sigma(+)g transition upon irradiation at 248 nm by using cavity ring-down absorption spectroscopy (CRDS). The nascent vibrational population ratio of Br2(v=1)/Br2(v=0) is obtained to be 0.7+/-0.2, thus indicating that the Br2 fragment is produced in hot vibrational states. The obtained Br2 products are anticipated to result primarily from photodissociation of the ground-state cis isomer via four-center elimination or from cis/trans isomers via three-center elimination, each mechanism involving a transition state that has a Br-Br distance much larger than that of ground state Br2. According to ab initio potential energy calculations, the pathways that lead to Br2 elimination may proceed either through the electronic ground state by internal conversion or through the triplet state by intersystem crossing. Temperature-dependence measurements are examined, thereby supporting the pathway that involves internal conversion--which was excluded previously by using product translational spectroscopy (PTS). The quantum yield for the Br2 elimination reaction is determined to be 0.120.1, being substantially contributed by the ground-state Br2 product. The discrepancy of this value from that (of 0.2) obtained by PTS may rise from the lack of measurements in probing the triplet-state Br2 product.

Vibrational and rotational energy transfer of CH+ in collisions with 4He and 3He

A quantum mechanical investigation of vibrational and rotational energy transfer in cold and ultra cold collisions of CH+ with 3He and 4He atoms is presented. Ab initio potential energy calculations are carried out at the BCCD(T) level and a global 3D potential energy surface is obtained using the Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space (RKHS) method. Close coupling scattering calculations using this surface are performed at collision energy ranging from 10-6 to 2000 cm-1. In the very low collision energy limit, the vibrational and rotational quenching cross sections of CH+ in collisions with He are found to be of the same order of magnitude. This unusual result is attributed to the large angular anisotropy of the intermolecular potential and to the unusually small equilibrium value of the Jacobi R coordinate of the He–CH+ complex. As for the He–N2 + collision, we also find a strong isotope effect in the very low collision energy range which is analyzed in terms of scattering length and the differences between these two collisions are also discussed.

Br 2 molecular elimination in 248nm photolysis of CHBr2Cl by using cavity ring-down absorption spectroscopy

Elimination of molecular bromine is probed in the B (3)Pi(ou) (+)<--X (1)Sigma(g) (+) transition following photodissociation of CHBr(2)Cl at 248 nm by using cavity ring-down absorption spectroscopy. The quantum yield for the Br(2) elimination reaction is determined to be 0.05+/-0.03. The nascent vibrational population ratio of Br(2)(v=1)Br(2)(v=0) is obtained to be 0.5+/-0.2. A supersonic beam of CHBr(2)Cl is similarly photofragmented and the resulting Br atoms are monitored with a velocity map ion-imaging detection, yielding spatial anisotropy parameters of 1.5 and 1.1 with photolyzing wavelengths of 234 and 267 nm, respectively. The results justify that the excited state promoted by 248 nm should have an A(") symmetry. Nevertheless, when CHBr(2)Cl is prepared in a supersonic molecular beam under a cold temperature, photofragmentation gives no Br(2) detectable in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. A plausible pathway via internal conversion is proposed with the aid of ab initio potential energy calculations. Temperature dependence measurements lend support to the proposed pathway. The production rates of Br(2) between CHBr(2)Cl and CH(2)Br(2) are also compared to examine the chlorine-substituted effect.

H–N 2 inelastic collision dynamics on new potential energy surface

A quantum mechanical investigation of the inelastic collision of 14N 2( ν = 1, j) with H atoms is presented. Ab initio potential energy calculations are carried out at MRCI level and a new global 3D potential energy surface describing the unimolecular dissociation of H–N 2 is obtained by fitting ab initio points within the Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space (RKHS) method. This surface describes both the well associated with the H–N 2 unstable molecule and the shallow well associated with the Van der Waals complex as well as the long range part of the surface. Close Coupling scattering calculations are performed at collision energy ranging from 10 −6 to 10,000 cm −1. In the cold and ultra cold regime the vibrational and rotational deactivation cross section of N 2 in collision with H is considered and compared with the previously studied He–N 2 inelastic collision. At higher energy the resonances associated with the vibrational level of the H–N 2 complex are calculated and their width used to give estimate of the corresponding lifetimes.

248 nm photolysis of CH2Br2 by using cavity ring-down absorption spectroscopy: Br2 molecular elimination at room temperature

Following photodissociation of CH2Br2 at 248 nm, Br2 molecular elimination is detected by using a tunable laser beam, as crossed perpendicular to the photolyzing laser beam in a ring-down cell, probing the Br2 fragment in the B 3Piou+ -X 1Sigmag+ transition. The nascent vibrational population is obtained, yielding a population ratio of Br2(v = 1)Br2(v = 0) to be 0.7 +/- 0.2. The quantum yield for the Br2 elimination reaction is determined to be 0.2 +/- 0.1. Nevertheless, when CH2Br2 is prepared in a supersonic molecular beam under cold temperature, photofragmentation gives no Br2 detectable in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. With the aid of ab initio potential energy calculations, a plausible pathway is proposed. Upon excitation to the 1B1 or 3B1 state, C-Br bond elongation may change the molecular symmetry of Cs and enhance the resultant 1 1,3A'-X 1A' (or 1 1,3B1-X 1A1 as C2v is used) coupling to facilitate the process of internal conversion, followed by asynchronous concerted photodissociation. Temperature dependence measurements lend support to the proposed pathway.

Microwave and ab initio studies of rare gas-methane van der Waals complexes.

Rotational spectra of the weakly bound Kr-methane van der Waals complex were recorded using a pulsed molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectrometer in the range from 3.5 to 18 GHz. Spectra of 25 isotopomers of Kr-methane were assigned and analyzed. For isotopomers containing CH4, 13CH4, and CD4, two sets of transitions with K = 0 and one with K = 1 were recorded, correlating to the j = 0, 1, and 2 rotational levels of free methane, respectively (j is the rotational angular momentum quantum number of the methane monomer). For isotopomers containing CH3D and CHD3, two K = 0 components were recorded, correlating to the j(k) = 0(0) and 1(1) rotational levels of free methane (k corresponds to the projection of j onto the C3 axis of CH3D and CHD3). The obtained spectroscopic results were used to derive van der Waals bond distance R, van der Waals stretching frequency nu(s), and the corresponding stretching force constant k(s). Nuclear spin statistical weights of individual states were obtained from molecular symmetry group analyses and were compared with the observed relative transition intensities. The tentatively assigned j = 2 transitions were more intense than predicted from symmetry considerations. This is attributed to a relatively large effective dipole moment of this state, supported by ab initio dipole moment calculations. Ab initio potential energy calculations of Kr-CH4 and Ar-CH4 were done at the coupled cluster level of theory, with single and double excitations and perturbative inclusion of triple excitations, using the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set supplemented with bond functions. The theoretical results show that the angular dynamics of the dimer does not change significantly when the binding partner of methane changes from Ar to Kr. The dipole moment of Ar-CH4 was calculated at various configurations, providing a qualitative explanation for the unsuccessful spectral searches for rotational transitions of Ar-CH4.

Vibrational quenching of HF(ν=1,j) molecules by 3He atoms at very low energy

Abstract We report Close Coupling calculations of the vibrational quenching of HF( ν=1, j=0,1 ) molecules colliding with 3 He atoms at very low energy. Ab initio potential energy calculations are carried out at the BCCD(T) level using a quintuple-zeta basis set. A new global 3D potential energy surface is obtained by fitting the grid of ab initio points within the Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space (RKHS) interpolation method. This surface exhibits two minima associated both with linear geometries ( V =−43.70 cm −1 for He–HF and V =−25.88 cm −1 for He–FH). Close Coupling calculations are performed in the collision energy 10 −6 to 2000 cm −1 interval. It is shown that the PES supports a series of the shape and Feshbach resonances, which have a strong influence on the temperature dependence of the quenching rate coefficient. We also comment the differences and similarities with other van der Waals complexes.

Vibrational quenching ofN2(ν=1,jrot=j)by3He:Surface and close-coupling calculations at very low energy

A quantum-mechanical investigation of the vibrational deactivation of ${}^{14}{\mathrm{N}}_{2}(\ensuremath{\nu}=1,{j}_{\mathrm{rot}}=j)$ in the ultracold collisions with ${}^{3}\mathrm{He}$ atoms is presented. Ab initio potential-energy calculations are carried out at BCCD(T) level and a global three-dimensional potential-energy surface is obtained by fitting ab initio points within the reproducing kernel Hilbert space method. Close coupling scattering calculations are performed at collision energy ranging from ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ to 2000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$. It is shown that the potential-energy surface supports a series of shape and Feshbach resonances. Their influence on the behavior of elastic and inelastic cross sections and quenching rate coefficients is discussed. It is demonstrated that, similar to the ${\mathrm{H}\mathrm{e}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ system, the rate coefficients exhibit three different regimes: Wigner regime at very low temperatures, van der Waals regime at intermediate temperatures due to series of resonances, and the usual rovibration--translation energy transfer regime at high temperatures.

On the importance of exchange effects in three-body interactions: The lowest quartet state of Na3

Three-body interactions in a homonuclear van der Waals bound trimer (the 1 4A2′ state of Na3) are studied spectroscopically for the first time using laser induced emission spectroscopy on a liquid helium nanodroplet coupled with ab initio calculations. The van der Waals bound, spin polarized sodium trimers are prepared via pickup by, and selective survival in, a beam of helium clusters. Laser excitation from the 1 4A2′ to the 2 4E′ state, followed by dispersion of the fluorescence emission, allows for the resolution of the structure due to the vibrational levels of the lower state and for the gathering of precise information on the three-body interatomic potential. From previous experiments on Na2 we know that the presence of the liquid helium perturbs the spectra by a very small amount [see J. Higgins et al., J. Phys. Chem. 102, 4952 (1998)]. Ab initio potential energy calculations are carried out at 42 geometries of the lowest quartet state using the coupled cluster method at the single, double, and noniterative triple excitations level [CCSD(T)]. The full potential energy surface is obtained from the ab initio points using an interpolation procedure based on a Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space (RKHS) methodology. This surface is compared to a second, constructed using an analytical model function for both the two-body interaction and the nonadditivity correction. The latter is calculated as the difference between the CCSD(T) points and the sum of the two-body interactions. The bound vibrational states are calculated using the two potential energy surfaces and are compared to the experimentally determined levels. The calculated bound levels are combined with an intensity calculation of the ν2″ mode of E′ symmetry derived from a Jahn–Teller analysis of the excited electronic state. The calculated frequencies of ν1″ and ν2″ are found to be 37.1 cm−1 and 44.7 cm−1, respectively, using the RKHS potential surface while values of 37.1 cm−1 and 40.8 cm−1 are obtained from the analytical potential. These values are found to be in good to fair agreement with those obtained from the emission spectrum and to be significantly different from any values calculated from additive potential energy surfaces. The 1 4A2′ Na3 potential energy surface is characterized by a D3h symmetry minimum of −850 cm−1 (relative to the three 3 2S Na atom dissociation limit) with a bond distance of 4.406 Å. This bond distance differs by about 0.8 Å from the value of 5.2 Å found for the sodium triplet dimer. This means that approximately 80% of the binding energy at the potential minimum is due to three-body effects. This strong nonadditivity is overwhelmingly due to the deformability of the valence electron density of the Na atoms which leads to a significant decrease of the exchange overlap energy in the trimer.