Rovibrational Spectroscopic Constants Research Articles

Reaction Pathway and Rovibrational Analysis of Aluminum Nitride Species as Potential Dust Grain Nucleation Agents

A dust nucleating agent may be present in interstellar or circumstellar media that has gone seemingly undetected and unstudied for decades. Some analyses of the Murchison CM2 meteorite suggest that at least some of the aluminum present within condensed as aluminum nitrides instead of the long-studied, but heretofore undetected suite of aluminum oxides. The present theoretical study utilizes explicitly correlated coupled cluster theory and density functional theory to provide a formation pathway from alane (AlH3) and ammonia to the cyclic structure Al2N2H4, which has the proper Al/N ratio expected of bulk aluminum nitrides. Novel rovibrational spectroscopic constants are computed for alane and the first two formed structures, AlNH6 and AlNH4, along the reaction pathway for use as reference in possible laboratory or observational studies. The ν 8 bending frequency for AlNH6 at 755.7 cm−1 (13.23 μm) presents a vibrational transition intensity of 515 km mol−1, more intense than the antisymmetric C−O stretch of carbon dioxide, and contains a dipole moment of 5.40 D, which is ∼3× larger than that of water. Thus, the present reaction pathway and rovibrational spectroscopic analysis may potentially assist in the astrophysical detection of novel, inorganic species which may be indicative of larger dust grain nucleation.

A computational and spectroscopic study of MgCCH (X2Σ+): towards characterizing MgCCH+

ABSTRACT New computational and experimental studies have been carried out for the MgCCH radical in its X2Σ+ state. Coupled cluster theory [CCSD(T)], was used in conjunction with post-CCSD(T) and scalar relativistic additive corrections to compute vibrational quartic force fields for MgCCH and its cation. From the quartic force fields, higher-order spectroscopic properties, including rotational constants, were obtained. In tandem, the five lowest energy rotational transitions for MgCCH, N = 1→0 through N = 5→4, were measured for the first time using Fourier transform microwave/millimetre wave methods in the frequency range 9–50 GHz. The radical was created in the Discharge Assisted Laser Ablation Source (DALAS) developed in the Ziurys group. A combined fit of these data with previous millimetre direct absorption measurements have yielded the most accurate rotational constants for MgCCH to date. The computed principle rotational constant lies within −1.51 to +1.65 MHz of the experimental one, validating the computational approach. High-level theory was then applied to produce rovibrational spectroscopic constants for MgCCH+, including a rotational constant of B0 = 5354.5–5359.5 MHz. These new predictions will further the experimental study of MgCCH+, and aid in the low-temperature characterisation of MgCCH in the interstellar medium.

A Detailed Study of Electronic and Dynamic Properties of Noble Gas-Oxygen Molecule Adducts.

In this work, the binding features of adducts formed by a noble gas (Ng = He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, and Rn) atom and the oxygen molecule (O2) in its ground Σg-3, in the past target of several experimental studies, have been characterized under different theoretical points of view to clarify fundamental aspects of the intermolecular bond. For the most stable configuration of all Ng-O2 systems, binding energy has been calculated at the theory's CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ level and compared with the experimental findings. Rovibrational energies, spectroscopic constants, and lifetime as a function of temperature were also evaluated by adopting properly formulated potential energy curves. The nature of the interaction involved was deeply investigated using charge displacement analysis, symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT), and natural bond orbital (NBO) methods. In all adducts, it was found that the charge transfer plays a minor role, although O2 is an open shell species exhibiting a positive electron affinity. Obtained results also indicate that the dispersion attraction contribution is the main responsible for the complex stability.

A Spectroscopic Validation of the Improved Lennard-Jones Model.

The Lennard–Jones (LJ) and Improved Lennard–Jones (ILJ) potential models have been deeply tested on the most accurate CCSD(T)/CBS electronic energies calculated for some weakly bound prototype systems. These results are important to plan the correct application of such models to systems at increasing complexity. CCSD(T)/CBS ground state electronic energies were determined for 21 diatomic systems composed by the combination of the noble gas atoms. These potentials were employed to calculate the rovibrational spectroscopic constants, and the results show that for 20 of the 21 pairs the ILJ predictions agree more effectively with the experimental data than those of the LJ model. The CCSD(T)/CBS energies were also used to determine the parameter of the ILJ form, related to the softness/hardness of the interacting partners and controlling the shape of the potential well. This information supports the experimental finding that suggests the adoption of for most of the systems involving noble gas atoms. The He-Ne and He-Ar molecules have a lifetime of less than 1ps in the 200–500 K temperature range, indicating that they are not considered stable under thermal conditions of gaseous bulks. Furthermore, the controversy concerning the presence of a “virtual” or a “real” vibrational state in the He molecule is discussed.

Saturated absorption spectroscopy near 1.57 μm and revised rotational line list of 12C16O

Molecular transitions provide natural frequency standards for spectroscopy, telecommunication, and astrophysics. The frequency accuracy is also crucial in various tests of fundamental physics. A comb-locked cavity ring-down spectrometer measured lamb dips of sixty-one 12C16O transitions around 1.57 μm in the second overtone band. The positions were determined with an accuracy of a few kHz. A new set of rotational spectroscopic parameters was derived with 30 ground state combination difference for the ground vibrational state with a standard deviation of 4.5 kHz. It results in a refinement of the ro-vibrational spectroscopic constants for the v=3 vibrational state. These parameters allow the pure rotational line lists of the υ=0←0 and υ=3←3 in the 112 GHz – 3.89 THz regions.

Accurate spectroscopic properties by diffusion quantum Monte Carlo calculations

The capability of Diffusion Quantum Monte Carlo (DMC) to produce high quality potential energy curve (PEC) was evaluated. H2+, HeH+ and LiH PECs were built by all-electron fixed-node DMC calculations. Trial wave functions were obtained from Hartree-Fock (HF) (H2+), MCSCF and CI (HeH+ and LiH) calculations multiplied by Jastrow factor. The quality of these generated PECs was analyzed throughout equilibrium distance, dissociation energy, vibrational energies and rovibrational spectroscopic constants (ωe, ωexe, ωeye, αe, γe and Be). The Discrete Variable Representation (DVR) and the Dunham approaches were used to determine the rovibrational spectroscopic constants. The PECs and the aforementioned properties were also obtained by the following methods: MCSCF/aug-cc-pV5Z (LiH), CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pV5Z (HeH+ and LiH) and HF (H2+ and HeH+) levels. The results of these DMC computations, specially the DMC-DVR procedure, are the most accurate among others DMC calculations available in the literature for these systems. They suggest that DMC can be used to achieve accurate PECs to produce spectroscopic properties with the same level of accuracy of theoretical benchmarks and experimental data of the literature.

Computational analysis of vibrational frequencies and rovibrational spectroscopic constants of hydrogen sulfide dimer using MP2 and CCSD(T).

Previous studies have shown that the weakly bonded H2S dimer demands high level quantum chemical calculations to reproduce experimental values. We investigated the hydrogen bonding of H2S dimer using MP2 and CCSD(T) levels of theory in combination with aug-cc-pV(D,T,Q)Z basis sets. More precisely, the binding energies, potential energy curves, rovibrational spectroscopic constants, decomposition lifetime, and normal vibrational frequencies were calculated. In addition, we introduced the local mode analysis of Konkoli-Cremer to quantify the hydrogen bonding in the H2S dimer as well as providing for the first time the comprehensive decomposition of normal vibrational modes into local modes contributions, and a decomposition lifetime based on rate constant. The local mode force constant of the H2S dimer hydrogen bond is smaller than that of the water dimer, in accordance with the weaker hydrogen bonding in the H2S dimer.

Coupled cluster spectroscopic properties of the coinage metal nitrosyls, M–NO (M = Cu, Ag, Au)

Ab initio near-equilibrium potential energy and dipole moment surfaces for the bent CuNO, AgNO, and AuNO molecules have been calculated under the Feller–Peterson–Dixon (FPD) composite framework at the coupled cluster level of theory including complete basis set extrapolation, outer-core correlation, scalar relativistic effects, and spin–orbit coupling. The Brueckner coupled cluster doubles with perturbative triples method, BCCD(T), was used to greatly improve upon CCSD(T), which was particularly problematic for CuNO. In the latter case, the BCCD(T) vibrational frequencies showed significant differences compared to CCSD(T), e.g., nearly 65 cm−1 for the NO stretching frequency, and BCCD(T) also resulted in much better agreement with the available experimental frequencies. A full range of ro-vibrational spectroscopic constants are given for all three molecules of this study using the accurate composite potential energy functions and employing second-order vibrational perturbation theory.

Highly Accurate Quartic Force Field and Rovibrational Spectroscopic Constants for the Azirinyl Cation (c-C2NH2+) and Its Isomers.

The azirinyl cation is an aromatic cyclic molecule that is isoelectronic with cyclopropenylidene, c-C3H2, and c-C3H3+. Cyclopropenylidene has been shown to be ubiquitous, existing in many different astrophysical environments. Given the similar chemistry between C and N, and the relative abundances between C and N in astrophysical environments, it is expected that there should be aromatic ringed molecules that incorporate N in the ring, but as yet, no such molecule has been identified. To address this issue, the present study uses high levels of electronic structure theory to compute a highly accurate quartic force field (QFF) for the azirinyl cation and its two lowest lying isomers, the cyanomethyl and isocyanomethyl cations. The theoretical approach uses the singles and doubles coupled-cluster method that includes a perturbative correction for connected triple excitations, CCSD(T), together with extrapolation to the one-particle basis set limit and corrections for scalar relativity and core-correlation. The QFF is then used in a second-order vibrational perturbation theory analysis (VPT2) to compute the fundamental vibrational frequencies and rovibrational spectroscopic constants for all three C2NH2+ isomers. The reliability of the VPT2 vibrational frequencies is tested by comparison to vibrational configuration interaction (VCI) calculations, and excellent agreement is found between the two approaches. Fundamental vibrational frequencies and rovibrational spectroscopic constants for all singly substituted 13C, 15N, and D isotopologues are also reported. It is expected that the highly accurate spectroscopic data reported herein will be useful in the identification of these cations in high-resolution experimental or astronomical observations.

Dynamics and spectroscopy of van der Waals complexes composed of ammonia and noble gases.

In this work, we calculate the rovibrational energies and spectroscopic constants for the systems formed by ammonia (NH3) and noble gases (Ng=He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe). For the spectroscopic constant calculations, we used two different methods: Dunham and another one that use rovibrational energies (here calculated by discrete variable method). In both cases, we used the improved Lennard-Jones potential energy curves (PECs). These PECs, which describe very well van der Waals systems, were built using the dissociation and equilibrium distance obtained from experiments of crossed molecular beams. The spectroscopic constant results, obtained by both methods were in excellent agreement with each other for all NH3-Ng studied systems. Also in relation to NH3-He system, we realize that although this system has a relatively small dissociation energy, it has one vibrational level. Finally, the spectroscopic constants and fundamental rovibrational energy results were used to verify the stability of each system through the lifetime decomposition.

Quantum chemical spectral characterization of CH2NH2[formula omitted] for remote sensing of Titan’s atmosphere

Cassini has shown that CH2NH2+ is likely present in relatively high abundance in Titan’s upper atmosphere. Relatively little is known about this molecule even though it contains the same number of electrons as ethylene, a molecule of significance to Titan’s chemistry. Any studies on CH2NH2+ with application to Titan or its atmospheric chemistry will have to be done remotely at this point with the end of the fruitful Cassini mission. Consequently, trusted quantum chemical techniques are utilized here to produce the rotational, vibrational, and rovibrational spectroscopic constants for CH2NH2+ for the first time. The methodology produces a tightly fit potential energy surface here that is well-behaved indicating a strong credence in the accuracy for the produced values. Most notably, the 884.1 cm−1 NH2 out-of-plane bend is the brightest of the vibrational frequencies reported here for CH2NH2+, and an observed and unattributed feature in this spectral region has been documented but never assigned to a molecular carrier. Follow-up IR or radio observations making use of the 540 GHz to 660 GHz range with the 0.45 D molecular dipole moment will have to be undertaken in order to confirm this or any attribution, but the data provided in this work will greatly assist in any such studies related to CH2NH2+.

The interaction of CCl4 with Ng (Ng = He, Ne, Ar), O2, D2O and ND3: rovibrational energies, spectroscopic constants and theoretical calculations.

This investigation generated rovibrational energies and spectroscopic constants for systems of CCl4 with Ng (Ng = He, Ne, Ar), O2, D2O and ND3 from scattering experimental data, and the results presented are of interest for microwave spectroscopy studies of small halogenated molecules. The rovibrational spectra were obtained through two different approaches (Dunham and DVR) within the improved Lennard Jones (ILJ) model. Spectra were also generated within ordinary Lennard Jones and deviations suggest that the ILJ model should be preferred due to interactions beyond dispersion forces presented in these systems. Data from the literature and additional high level quantum mechanical calculations presented in this work show that these systems should not be considered as van der Waals complexes due to halogen bonding (HB) interactions, and this is especially true for the CCl4-D2O and CCl4-ND3 complexes. The charge displacement from the latter systems are one order of magnitude higher than the values from literature for CCl4 and He, Ne, Ar and O2 systems, and show significant deviations between DFT and Hartree-Fock values not previously reported in the literature.

On the Detectability of the HSS, HSO, and HOS Radicals in the Interstellar Medium

Abstract HSS has yet to be observed in the gas phase in the interstellar medium (ISM). HSS has been observed in cometary material and in high abundance. However, its agglomeration to such bodies or dispersal from them has not been observed. Similarly, HSO and HOS have not been observed in the ISM, either, even though models support their formation from reactions of known sulfur monoxide and hydrogen molecules, among other pathways. Consequently, this work provides high-level, quantum chemical rovibrational spectroscopic constants and vibrational frequencies in order to assist in interstellar searches for these radical molecules. Furthermore, the HSO−HOS isomerization energy is determined to be 3.63 kcal mol−1, in line with previous work, and the dipole moment of HOS is 36% larger at 3.87 D than HSO, making the less stable isomer more rotationally intense. Finally, the S−S bond strength in HSS is shown to be relatively weak at 30% of the typical disulfide bond energy. Consequently, HSS may degrade into SH and sulfur atoms, making any ISM abundance of HSS likely fairly low, as recent interstellar surveys have observed.

Rovibrational spectroscopic constants of the interaction between ammonia and metallo-phthalocyanines: a theoretical protocol for ammonia sensor design.

In the present contribution, we develop an adapted theoretical approach based on DFT calculations (B3LYP functional) and solution of the nuclear Schrödinger equation by using the Discrete Variable Representation method to model the interaction of ammonia with metallo-phthalocyanines (MPcs, where M = Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ or Zn2+). This approach is intended to be a general protocol for the rational design of chemical sensors. The as-obtained binding energy curves, obtained from ab initio points, permitted us to calculate rovibrational energies and spectroscopic constants, as well as to establish the relative population of rovibrational states in different types of MPc-NH3 thermodynamic systems. Simulated binding energy curves show that the binding energy in MPc-NH3 systems is dependent on the type of M central ion, decreasing in the order FePc > ZnPc > CoPc > CuPc > NiPc, with values spanning from -170 to -16 kJ mol-1. Also, MPc-NH3 systems have at least 16 rovibrational levels, which confirms that they are all bound systems (chemically or physically). Despite that, only the interaction between ammonia and FePc, CoPc or ZnPc is spontaneous within the studied temperature range (200-700 K). NiPc and CuPc show a change between spontaneous and non-spontaneous behaviours at ∼400 K and ∼500 K, respectively. Less bound systems should more efficiently guarantee the sensors' signal reset, while they are also less specific than sensors built with medium to strongly bound systems. Moreover, the intermediate energy and spontaneous binding of ammonia to NiPc and CuPc at operation temperatures, as determined with our theoretical approach, suggests that these MPcs are most promising for ammonia sensors.

H2O2–Ng dynamics predictions using an accurate potential energy surface

ABSTRACTBased on ab initio calculations, our research group has built an analytical ground-state potential energy surface (PES) for hydrogen peroxide– noble gas (Ng) interactions, such as H2O2–He, H2O2–Ne, H2O2–Ar, H2O2–Kr, and H2O2–Xe complexes. From this PES, it was verified that the Ng presence does not affect the equilibrium values of the H2O2 dihedral angles. This happens because the H2O2 intramolecular barriers have much higher energies than the atom–bond interaction within these complexes. From this point of view, it is indeed reasonable to consider the H2O2 system as a rigid rotor, frozen at its equilibrium configuration. We present in this work the torsional motion for the H2O2 isolated system, the vibration–rotation energy levels and spectroscopic constants for hydrogen peroxide–noble gas by using the aforementioned PES. The predicted H2O2 torsional motions are in good agreement with both theoretical and experimental results available in the literature. Regarding H2O2–Ng ro-vibrational energies and spectroscopic constants, it is the first time that these calculations are presented in the literature. The current theoretical predictions are expected to be useful in the future experimental investigations.

Rovibrational energies and spectroscopic constants for H2O-Ng complexes.

In this work, rovibrational energies and spectroscopic constants for the water -Ng complexes (Ng = He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe) were calculated through two different approaches (by solving the Nuclear Schrödinger equation and by applying the Dunham's method) and using two different potential energy curves (PEC). These PEC were determined using potential parameters obtained through molecular beam scattering experiments and accurate theoretical calculation, respectively. It was found that the theoretical rovibrational energies are in a good agreement (only for the lowest numbers of vibrational states) with those obtained through experimental PEC. Another important conclusions was regarding the calculated first two rovibrational energies for the H 2 O-Ar system, that are in a good agreement with the experimental data.

QUANTUM CHEMICAL ROVIBRATIONAL DATA FOR THE INTERSTELLAR DETECTION OFc-C3H–

The anion chemistry of the interstellar medium (ISM) has almost exclusively been limited to linear hydrocarbons and cyanocarbons. Of the hydrocarbons, only the even n C n H– chains have been detected in the ISM, and lines hypothesized to originate with b-C3H– have been conclusively linked to the corresponding cation, as originally claimed. However, no reason has yet been provided as to why other anions cannot form, and the cyclic form of C3H– is actually the lowest-energy isomer on the anion's potential energy surface. As such, this work provides the necessary rovibrational reference data for the potential detection of this anion in the ISM or related laboratory experiments. Improvements over previously calculated rovibrational spectroscopic constants are contained herein along with graphical depictions of the pure rotational spectra at 100 K, 40 K, 20 K, and 2.7 K.

Fully relativistic rovibrational energies and spectroscopic constants of the lowest $$ {\text{X}}:(1)0_g^{ + } $$ , A′:(1)2 u , A:(1)1 u , $$ {\text{B}}\prime :(1)0_u^{ - } $$ and $$ {\text{B}}:(1)0_u^{ + } $$ states of molecular chlorine

The main goal of this paper is to present the rovibrational energies and spectroscopic constants of the Cl(2) molecular system in the relativistic states [Formula: see text], A':(1)2( u ), A:(1)1( u ), [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. More precisely, we have evaluated the Cl(2) ω ( e ), ω ( e ) x ( e ), ω ( e ) y ( e ), α ( e ), γ ( e ) and B ( e ) rovibrational spectroscopic constants using two different procedures. The first was obtained by combining the rovibrational energies, calculated through solving Schrödinger's nuclear equation and the diatomic rovibrational energy equation. The second was obtained by using the Dunham method. The calculated properties are in good agreement with available experimental data.

Spectroscopic properties of the [formula omitted] molecular ion in the 8kπ, 9kσ, 9lπ, 9lσ and 10oσ electronic states

The electronic energies of several molecular ions in different states have been recently determined by applying Hylleraas’ method along with Wind-Jaffe’s series to the Hamilton–Jacobi equation. In this paper, a continuation of three previous studies is presented: we have fitted to fourth-degree Rydberg generalized functions the potential energy curves for the 8kπ, 9kσ, 9lπ, 9lσ and 10oσ electronic states of the H2+ molecular ion. The correspondent rovibrational energies and spectroscopic constants were then derived by both the Discrete Variable Representation and Dunham’s method. The theoretical results – the first reported in the literature – are expected to provide a reliable comparison source to future works.

Accurate ab initio quartic force fields for NH2− and CCH− and rovibrational spectroscopic constants for their isotopologs

A series of high-quality, purely ab initio, quartic force fields (QFFs), computed using a procedure we recently proposed, is reported for NH2− and CCH−. The singles and doubles coupled-cluster method with a perturbational estimate of the effects of connected triple excitations, denoted CCSD(T), was used with TZ, QZ, and 5Z quality basis sets and was combined with extrapolation to the one-particle basis-set limit, core-correlation effects, scalar relativistic effects, and higher-order correlation effects to yield accurate QFFs. A “best-guess” reference geometry was determined at the CCSD(T)/5Z level of theory. Analytical transformation removes nonzero gradients to facilitate a second-order perturbation theory spectroscopic analysis. The QFF is transformed into Morse/cosine coordinates in order to perform exact vibrational configuration interaction computations. Equilibrium structures, vibrational frequencies, rotational constants, and selected spectroscopic constants are reported in comparison with experimental values and previous theoretical studies. Higher-order correlation effects are found comparable to core-correlation effects in magnitude, e.g., ∼10 cm−1 for fundamentals, but are of opposite sign. For CCH−, a thorough discussion is presented on effective rotational constants B0. It is concluded that the “best” QFF should incorporate all the small corrections mentioned above. Correspondingly, the best vibrational fundamentals of CCH− are estimated at 502.0 cm−1 (ν2), 1800.9 cm−1 (ν3), and 3204.3 cm−1 (ν1), while the best vibrational fundamentals of NH2− are at 3118.5 cm−1 (ν1), 1447.8 cm−1 (ν2), and 3186.5 cm−1 (ν3). Excellent agreement with high-resolution experiments has been obtained for fundamentals—e.g., 1–3 cm−1 deviation for the symmetric and antisymmetric stretches of NH2−, 3121.93 cm−1 (ν1) and 3190.29 cm−1 (ν3), respectively. Isotopic effects are studied and presented to aid future experimental analyses. The present study should facilitate future characterizations of NH2− and CCH− from astronomical observations or other high-resolution laboratory studies.