Ab Initio Potential Energy Research Articles

Ab initio canonical sampling based on variational inference

Finite temperature calculations, based on ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations, are a powerful tool able to predict material properties that cannot be deduced from ground state calculations. However, the high computational cost of AIMD limits its applicability for large or complex systems. To circumvent this limitation we introduce a new method named Machine Learning Assisted Canonical Sampling (MLACS), which accelerates the sampling of the Born--Oppenheimer potential surface in the canonical ensemble. Based on a self-consistent variational procedure, the method iteratively trains a Machine Learning Interatomic Potential to generate configurations that approximate the canonical distribution of positions associated with the ab initio potential energy. By proving the reliability of the method on anharmonic systems, we show that the method is able to reproduce the results of AIMD with an ab initio accuracy at a fraction of its computational cost.

ExoMol line lists – XLVI. Empirical rovibronic spectra of silicon mononitrate (SiN) covering the six lowest electronic states and four isotopologues

ABSTRACT Silicon mononitride (28Si14N, 29Si14N, 30Si14N, 28Si15N) line lists covering infrared, visible, and ultraviolet regions are presented. The SiNful line lists produced by ExoMol include rovibronic transitions between six electronic states: $X\, {}^{2}\Sigma ^{+}$, $A\, {}^{2}\Pi$, $B\, {}^{2}\Sigma ^{+}$, $D\, {}^{2}\Delta$, $a\, {}^{4}\Sigma ^{+}$, $b\, {}^{4}\Pi$. The ab initio potential energy and coupling curves, computed at the multireference configuration interaction (MRCI/aug-cc-pVQZ) level of theory, are refined for the observed states by fitting their analytical representations to 1052 experimentally derived SiN energy levels determined from rovibronic bands belonging to the X–X, A–X, and B–X electronic systems through the MARVEL procedure. The SiNful line lists are compared to previously observed spectra, recorded and calculated lifetimes, and previously calculated partition functions. SiNful is available via the www.exomol.com database.

VIB5 database with accurate ab initio quantum chemical molecular potential energy surfaces

High-level ab initio quantum chemical (QC) molecular potential energy surfaces (PESs) are crucial for accurately simulating molecular rotation-vibration spectra. Machine learning (ML) can help alleviate the cost of constructing such PESs, but requires access to the original ab initio PES data, namely potential energies computed on high-density grids of nuclear geometries. In this work, we present a new structured PES database called VIB5, which contains high-quality ab initio data on 5 small polyatomic molecules of astrophysical significance (CH3Cl, CH4, SiH4, CH3F, and NaOH). The VIB5 database is based on previously used PESs, which, however, are either publicly unavailable or lacking key information to make them suitable for ML applications. The VIB5 database provides tens of thousands of grid points for each molecule with theoretical best estimates of potential energies along with their constituent energy correction terms and a data-extraction script. In addition, new complementary QC calculations of energies and energy gradients have been performed to provide a consistent database, which, e.g., can be used for gradient-based ML methods.

Quantum Dynamics of Rotational Transitions in CN (X 2Σ+) by H+ Collisions.

Collisional cross-sections of inelastic rotational excitations of CN in its ground electronic state (X2Σ+) by H+ scattering are studied by the exact quantum mechanical close-coupling (CC) method at very low collision energies (0–600 cm−1) relevant to interstellar atmospheres. Ab initio rigid rotor potential energy surface computed at MRCI/cc-pVTZ level of accuracy has been employed. Rate coefficients for the rotational excitations have also been calculated. The obtained results are compared with previous theoretical calculations and analyzed whether proton collisions could be significant sources for rotationally excited CN as a possible source for cosmic microwave background of about 3 K from the interstellar media.

ExoMol line lists – XLIV. Infrared and ultraviolet line list for silicon monoxide (28Si16O)

ABSTRACT A new silicon monoxide (28Si16O) line list covering infrared, visible, and ultraviolet regions called SiOUVenIR is presented. This line list extends the infrared EBJT ExoMol line list by including vibronic transitions to the $A\, {}^{1}\Pi$ and $E\, {}^{1}\Sigma ^{+}$ electronic states. Strong perturbations to the $A\, {}^{1}\Pi$ band system are accurately modelled through the treatment of six dark electronic states: $C\, {}^{1}\Sigma ^{-}$, $D\, {}^{1}\Delta$, $a\, {}^{3}\Sigma ^{+}$, $b\, {}^{3}\Pi$, $e\, {}^{3}\Sigma ^{-}$, and $d\, {}^{3}\Delta$. Along with the $X\, {}^{1}\Sigma ^{+}$ ground state, these nine electronic states were used to build a comprehensive spectroscopic model of SiO using a combination of empirical and ab initio curves, including the potential energy (PE), spin–orbit, electronic angular momentum, and (transition) dipole moment curves. The ab initio PE and coupling curves, computed at the multireference configuration interaction level of theory, were refined by fitting their analytical representations to 2617 experimentally derived SiO energy levels determined from 97 vibronic bands belonging to the X–X, E–X, and A–X electronic systems through the MARVEL (Measured Active Rotational–Vibrational Energy Levels) procedure. 112 observed forbidden transitions from the C–X, D–X, e–X, and d–X bands were assigned using our predictions, and these could be fed back into the MARVEL procedure. The SiOUVenIR line list was computed using published ab initio transition dipole moments for the E–X and A–X bands; the line list is suitable for temperatures up to 10 000 K and for wavelengths longer than 140 nm. SiOUVenIR is available from www.exomol.com and the CDS data base.

On the synergy of matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy and vibrational configuration interaction computations

The key feature of matrix-isolation infrared (MI-IR) spectroscopy is the isolation of single guest molecules in a host system at cryogenic conditions. The matrix mostly hinders rotation of the guest molecule, providing access to pure vibrational features. Vibrational self-consistent field (VSCF) and configuration interaction computations (VCI) on ab initio multimode potential energy surfaces (PES) give rise to anharmonic vibrational spectra. In a single-sourced combination of these experimental and computational approaches, we have established an iterative spectroscopic characterization procedure. The present article reviews the scope of this procedure by highlighting the strengths and limitations based on the examples of water, carbon dioxide, methane, methanol, and fluoroethane. An assessment of setups for the construction of the multimode PES on the example of methanol demonstrates that CCSD(T)-F12 level of theory is preferable to compute (a) accurate vibrational frequencies and (b) equilibrium or vibrationally averaged structural parameters. Our procedure has allowed us to uniquely assign unknown or disputed bands and enabled us to clarify problematic spectral regions that are crowded with combination bands and overtones. Besides spectroscopic assignment, the excellent agreement between theory and experiment paves the way to tackle questions of rather fundamental nature as to whether or not matrix effects are systematic, and it shows the limits of conventional notations used by spectroscopists.

Global modeling of NF3 line positions and intensities from far to mid-infrared up to 2200 cm−1

In this work we report first global modeling of NF3 line positions and intensities up to the Tetradecad range of interacting bands (< 2200 cm−1). The calculations are based on our ab initio potential energy and dipole moment surfaces of NF3 which are used to compute initial theoretical line lists. The technique of six order contact transformations was then employed to build a global effective model for vibrational polyads. The purely theoretical parameters of this effective Hamiltonian were refined by fitting to assigned experimental line positions. The parameters of the effective dipole moment of vibrational bands were determined by fitting to our ab initio line intensities. The resulting global combined line list contains 41 cold and 683 hot sub-bands. It can be used for accurate simulating of NF3 radiative properties in the range 0–2200 cm−1. The theoretical simulations of absorption were compared and validated to the experimental database of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Absorption Spectra of Acetylene, Vinylidene, and Their Deuterated Isotopologues on Ab Initio Potential Energy and Dipole Moment Surfaces.

The absorption spectra of acetylene (HCCH) and vinylidene (H2CC) as well as their deuterated isotopologues are investigated theoretically on a near spectroscopically accurate full-dimensional potential energy surface reported in an earlier publication, using dipole moment surfaces reported in this work, which are constructed with a neural network method from a large number of ab initio data points. These global surfaces cover not only the deep acetylene well but also the vinylidene well, as well as the transition region between the two isomers. The agreement with available experimental data for acetylene is excellent, validating both the potential energy surface and the dipole moment surfaces. The infrared spectra of vinylidene and its deuterated isotopologues are predicted. The potential and dipole moment surfaces lay the foundation for future spectroscopic studies of the acetylene-vinylidene isomerization involving large-amplitude motions.

Coriolis coupling effects in the dynamics of the D(2S) + NH(X3Σ−) → N(4S) + HD(X1Σ g + ) reaction and its kinetic isotope effect

The time dependent wave packet method was used to study the dynamics of the D + NH(vi= 0, ji= 0) → N+HD reaction and its isotopic variants, using the ab initio analytical potential energy surface (Zhai et al. in J Chem Phys 135:104314, 2011). The comparison of the calculated cross sections with and without Coriolis coupling (CC) showed that the inclusion of CC is important to achieve a quantitative description of the title reaction at high collision energies. Intermolecular isotopic effect was also examined in the cross sections. However, the CC and isotopic effects became inconspicuous when rate constants of the title reaction were only considered.

IR Spectra of (HCOOH)2 and (DCOOH)2: Experiment, VSCF/VCI, and Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Calculations Using Full-Dimensional Potential and Dipole Moment Surfaces.

We report quantum VSCF/VCI and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) calculations of the IR spectra of (HCOOH)2 and (DCOOH)2, using full-dimensional, ab initio potential energy and dipole moment surfaces (PES and DMS). These surfaces are fits, using permutationally invariant polynomials, to 13 475 ab initio CCSD(T)-F12a electronic energies and MP2 dipole moments. Here "AIMD" means using these ab initio potential and dipole moment surfaces in the MD calculations. The VSCF/VCI calculations use all (24) normal modes for coupling, with a four-mode representation of the potential. The quantum spectra align well with jet-cooled and room-temperature experimental spectra over the spectral range 600-3600 cm-1. Analyses of the complex O-H and C-H stretch bands are made based on the mixing of the VSCF/VCI basis functions. The comparisons of the AIMD IR spectra with both experimental and VSCF/VCI ones provide tests of the accuracy of the AIMD approach. These indicate good accuracy for simple bands but not for the complex O-H stretch band, which is upshifted from experimental and VSCF/VCI bands by roughly 300 cm-1. In addition to testing the AIMD approach, the PES, DMS, and VSCF/VCI calculations for formic acid dimer provide opportunities for testing other methods to represent high-dimensional data and other methods that perform postharmonic vibrational calculations.

High-dimensional fitting of sparse datasets of CCSD(T) electronic energies and MP2 dipole moments, illustrated for the formic acid dimer and its complex IR spectrum.

We present high-level, coupled-mode calculations of the infrared spectrum of the cyclic formic acid dimer. The calculations make use of full-dimensional, ab initio potential energy and dipole moment surfaces. The potential is a linear least-squares fit to 13 475 CCSD(T)-F12a/haTZ (haTZ means aug-cc-pVTZ basis set for O and C, and cc-pVTZ for H) energies, and the dipole moment surface is a fit to the dipole components, calculated at the MP2/haTZ level of theory. The variables of both fits are all (45) internuclear distances (actually Morse variables). The potential, which is fully permutationally invariant, is the one published recently and the dipole moment surface is newly reported here. Details of the fits, especially the dipole moment, and the database of configurations are given. The infrared spectrum of the dimer is calculated by solving the nuclear Schrödinger equation using a vibrational self-consistent field and virtual-state configuration interaction method, with subsets of the 24 normal modes, up to 15 modes. The calculations indicate strong mode-coupling in the C-H and O-H stretching region of the spectrum. Comparisons are made with experiments and the complexity of the experimental spectrum in the C-H and O-H stretching region is successfully reproduced.

ExoMol line lists XXIV: a new hot line list for silicon monohydride, SiH

SiH has long been observed in the spectrum of our Sun and other cool stars. Computed line lists for the main isotopologues of silicon monohydride, $^{28}$SiH, $^{29}$SiH, $^{30}$SiH and $^{28}$SiD are presented. These line lists consider rotation-vibration transitions within the ground $X$ $^{2}\Pi$ electronic state as well as transitions to the low-lying $A$ $^{2}\Delta$ and $a$ $^{4}\Sigma^-$ states. Ab initio potential energy (PECs) and dipole moment curves (DMCs) along with spin-orbit and electronic-angular-momentum couplings between them are calculated using the MRCI level of theory with the MOLPRO package. The PEC for the ground X $^2\Pi$ state is refined to available experimental data with a typical accuracy of around 0.01 cm$^{-1}$ or better. The $^{28}$SiH line list includes 11,785 rovibronic states and 1,724,841 transitions with associated Einstein-A coefficients for angular momentum $J$ up to $82.5$ and covering wavenumbers up to 31340 cm$^{-1}$ ($\lambda$ $<$ 0.319 $\mu$m). Spectra are simulated using the new line list and comparisons made with various experimental spectra. These line lists are applicable up to temperatures of ~5000 K, making them relevant to astrophysical objects such as exoplanetary atmospheres and cool stars and opening up the possibility of detection in the interstellar medium. These line lists are available at the ExoMol www.exomol.com and CDS database websites.

Accurate Theoretical Methane Line Lists in the Infrared up to 3000 K and Quasi-continuum Absorption/Emission Modeling for Astrophysical Applications

Abstract Modeling atmospheres of hot exoplanets and brown dwarfs requires high-T databases that include methane as the major hydrocarbon. We report a complete theoretical line list of 12CH4 in the infrared range 0–13,400 cm−1 up to T max = 3000 K computed via a full quantum-mechanical method from ab initio potential energy and dipole moment surfaces. Over 150 billion transitions were generated with the lower rovibrational energy cutoff 33,000 cm−1 and intensity cutoff down to 10−33 cm/molecule to ensure convergent opacity predictions. Empirical corrections for 3.7 million of the strongest transitions permitted line position accuracies of 0.001–0.01 cm−1. Full data are partitioned into two sets. “Light lists” contain strong and medium transitions necessary for an accurate description of sharp features in absorption/emission spectra. For a fast and efficient modeling of quasi-continuum cross sections, billions of tiny lines are compressed in “super-line” libraries according to Rey et al. These combined data will be freely accessible via the TheoReTS information system (http://theorets.univ-reims.fr, http://theorets.tsu.ru), which provides a user-friendly interface for simulations of absorption coefficients, cross-sectional transmittance, and radiance. Comparisons with cold, room, and high-T experimental data show that the data reported here represent the first global theoretical methane lists suitable for high-resolution astrophysical applications.

Ro-vibronic transition intensities for triatomic molecules from the exact kinetic energy operator; electronic spectrum for the C̃ 1B2 ← X̃ 1A1 transition in SO2.

A procedure for calculating ro-vibronic transition intensities for triatomic molecules within the Born-Oppenheimer approximation is reported. Ro-vibrational energy levels and wavefunctions are obtained with the DVR3D suite, which solves the nuclear motion problem with an exact kinetic energy operator. Absolute transition intensities are calculated both with the Franck-Condon approximation and with a full transition dipole moment surface. The theoretical scheme is tested on C̃ 1B2 ← X̃ 1A1 ro-vibronic transitions of SO2. Ab initio potential energy and dipole moment surfaces are generated for this purpose. The calculated ro-vibronic transition intensities and cross sections are compared with the available experimental and theoretical data.

ExoMol molecular line lists – XXIII. Spectra of PO and PS

Comprehensive line lists for phosphorus monoxide ($^{31}$P$^{16}$O) and phosphorus monosulphide ($^{31}$P$^{32}$S) in their $X$ $^2\Pi$ electronic ground state are presented. The line lists are based on new ab initio potential energy (PEC), spin-orbit (SOC) and dipole moment (DMC) curves computed using the MRCI+Q-r method with aug-cc-pwCV5Z and aug-cc-pV5Z basis sets. The nuclear motion equations (i.e. the rovibronic Schr\"odinger equations for each molecule) are solved using the program Duo. The PECs and SOCs are refined in least-squares fits to available experimental data. Partition functions, $Q(T)$, are computed up to $T=$ 5000 K, the range of validity of the line lists. These line lists are the most comprehensive available for either molecule. The characteristically sharp peak of the $Q$-branches from the spin-orbit split components give useful diagnostics for both PO and PS in spectra at infrared wavelengths. These line lists should prove useful for analysing observations and setting up models of environments such as brown dwarfs, low-mass stars, O-rich circumstellar regions and potentially for exoplanetary retrievals. Since PS is yet to be detected in space, the role of the two lowest excited electronic states ($a$ $^4\Pi$ and $B$ $^2\Pi$) are also considered. An approximate line list for the PS $X - B$ electronic transition, which predicts a number of sharp vibrational bands in the near ultraviolet, is also presented. he line lists are available from the CDS (cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr) and ExoMol (www.exomol.com) databases.

The Rovibrational Spectra of trans- and cis-HOCO, Calculated by MULTIMODE with ab Initio Potential Energy and Dipole Moment Surfaces.

The code MULTIMODE is used in its reaction path version, along with ab initio potential energy and dipole moment surfaces introduced earlier, to predict the infrared spectra of both trans and cis forms of HOCO at temperatures 296 and 15 K. All six fundamentals are isolated for each isomer and temperature, and their main features examined, paying particular attention to the OH stretch fundamental, whose spectrum has been reported experimentally for trans-HOCO. The current spectra for cis-HOCO, while not of "spectroscopic" accuracy, should be sufficient to aid in new experimental efforts to record the spectrum of this isomer.

Free rotor model or rigid rotor model for CH3F-Ne complex and comparison with other CH3F-rare gas systems

The assignment of the rovibrational spectra of molecule-Ne complexes is always a challenge to study van der Waals systems, since they usually exhibit behavior intermediate between free rotor and rigid rotor. In this paper, the microwave and infrared spectra of CH3F-Ne, a model system for symmetric-top-atom dimer, were firstly predicted and analyzed based on the four-dimensional ab initio intermolecular potential energy surfaces(PESs), which explicitly incorporate the v3(C—F) stretch normal model coordinate of the CH3F monomer. Analytic three-dimensional PESs were obtained by least-squares fitting vibrationally averaged interaction energies for v3(CH3F)=0 and 1 to the Morse/long-range(MLR) potential function for symmetry top impurity with atom model. These PESs fitting to 2340 points have root-mean-square(RMS) deviations of 0.07 cm–1, and require only 167 parameters. Based on the analytical vibrationally averaged PESs, the rovibrational energy levels were calculated by employing Lanczos algorithm, with combined radial discrete variable representation and parity-adapted angular finite basis representation. Based on the wavefunction analysis and comparison of CH3F-Ne with CH3F-He and CH3F-Ar complexes, the bound states were assigned. Spectral parameters for CH3F-Rg(Rg: rare gas, Rg=He, Ne, Ar) complexes were fitted and discussed. Temperature dependent transition intensities for CH3F-Ne were also reported and analyzed. The complete microwave and infrared spectra information for CH3F-Ne made it possible to provide important guidance for future experimental spectroscopic assignments.

Asymmetry in the triplet 3p-4s Mg lines in cool DZ white dwarfs

The purpose of the present work is to make an exhaustive study of the line shape of the triplet 3p-4s Mg line (Mgb triplet), which is perturbed by He in the extreme physical conditions found in the cool atmosphere of DZ white dwarfs. This study is undertaken by inferring both a unified theory of spectral line broadening and ab initio potential energies. Cool white dwarfs require a specific treatment for line broadening owing to the high helium densities that are involved. Beyond the conventional symmetrical Lorentzian core at low density, we show that the line profiles are asymmetrical and have significant additional contributions on the short wavelength side. This blue asymmetry is a consequence of low maxima in the corresponding Mg-He potential energy difference curves at short and intermediate internuclear distances. The new profiles are shown to provide a good fit to an SDSS (Sloan Digital Sky Survey) observation.

Quantum Local Monomer IR Spectrum of Liquid D2O at 300 K from 0 to 4000 cm(-1) Is in Near-Quantitative Agreement with Experiment.

The local monomer model is applied, with ab initio potential energy and dipole moment surfaces, to a calculation of the IR spectrum of liquid D2O at 300 K, over the spectral range 0 to 4000 cm(-1). The spectrum is an incoherent superposition of spectra of many monomers over snapshots of a molecular dynamics trajectory, where both intramolecular and intermolecular coupling in each monomer is treated. The comparison to experiment shows an unprecedented level of agreement for the stretch, bend, and libration bands and also the bend+libration and stretch+bend combination bands. This indicates that the incoherent approach captures much of the dynamics underlying the spectrum, provided monomer couplings are considered. The calculated spectrum is compared to the recently calculated IR spectrum of H2O, using the same method and potential energy and dipole moment surfaces, and shifts relative to that spectrum are presented and discussed.

Assignment and modeling of the absorption spectrum of 13CH4 at 80 K in the region of the 2ν3 band (5853–6201 cm−1)

The absorption spectrum of the 13CH4 methane isotopologue has been recently recorded by Differential Absorption Spectroscopy (DAS) at 80K in the 5853–6201cm−1 spectral range. An empirical list of 3717 lines was constructed for this spectral range corresponding to the upper part of the Tetradecad dominated by the 2ν3 band near 5987cm−1. In this work, we present rovibrational analyses of these spectra obtained via two theoretical approaches. Assignments of strong and medium lines were achieved with variational calculations using ab initio potential energy (PES) and dipole moment surfaces. For further analysis a non-empirical effective Hamiltonian (EH) of the methane polyads constructed by high-order Contact Transformations (CT) from an ab initio PES was employed. Initially predicted values of EH parameters were empirically optimized using 2898 assigned line positions fitted with an rms deviation of 5×10−3cm−1. More than 1860 measured line intensities were modeled using the effective dipole transition moments approach with the rms deviation of about 10%. These new data were used for the simultaneous fit of the 13CH4 Hamiltonian parameters of the {Ground state/Dyad/Pentad/Octad/Tetradecad} system and the dipole moment parameters of the {Ground state-Tetradecad} system. Overall, 10 vibrational states and 28 vibration sublevels of the 13CH4 Tetradecad are determined. The comparison of their energy values with corresponding theoretical calculations is discussed.