Higher order two- and three-body dispersion coefficients for alkali isoelectronic sequences by a variationally stable procedure

Using the variationally stable method of Gao and Starace, and the simple ground state wave function of the valence electron previously suggested by Patil and Tang, the multipolar polarizabilities of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Be(+), Mg(+), Ca(+), Sr(+), Ba(+), the two-body dispersion coefficients of homonuclear and heteronuclear interactions from C(6) to C(40), as well as the three-body dispersion coefficients Z(L(1), L(2), L(3)) (up to L(i) = 5), are investigated. Higher order van der Waals dispersion coefficients C(n) (n > 24) and Z(L(1), L(2), L(3)) (L(i) > 3) are reported for the first time. Comparisons with previous calculations found in the literature show that this approach is capable of yielding precise and fast convergent values for higher order dispersion coefficients for alkali-metal atoms.     

Structural properties and energetics of diffuse 87Rb clusters in three-dimension

A correlated two-body basis function is used to describe the three-dimensional bosonic clusters interacting via two-body van der Waals potential. We calculate the ground state and the zero orbital angular momentum excited states for Rb(N) clusters with up to N = 40. We solve the many-particle Schro?dinger equation by potential harmonics expansion method, which keeps all possible two-body correlations in the calculation and determines the lowest effective many-body potential. We study energetics and structural properties for such diffuse clusters both at dimer and tuned scattering length. The motivation of the present study is to investigate the possibility of formation of N-body clusters interacting through the van der Waals interaction. We also compare the system with the well studied He, Ne, and Ar clusters. We also calculate correlation properties and observe the generalised Tjon line for large cluster. We test the validity of the shape-independent potential in the calculation of the ground state energy of such diffuse cluster. These are the first such calculations reported for Rb clusters.     

Structural study of the thermal and photochemical spin states in the spin crossover complex [Fe(phen)2(NCSe)2

The first structural data for [Fe(phen)(2)(NCSe)(2)] (obtained using the extraction method of sample preparation) in its high-spin, low-spin and LIESST induced metastable high-spin states have been recorded using synchrotron radiation single crystal diffraction. The space group for all of the spin states was found to be Pbcn. On cooling from the high-spin state (HS-1) at 292 K through the spin crossover at about 235 K to the low-spin state at 100 K (LS-1) the iron coordination environment changed to a more regular octahedral geometry and the Fe-N bond lengths decreased by 0.216 and 0.196 A (Fe-N(phen)) and 0.147 A (Fe-N(CSe)). When the low-spin state was illuminated with visible light at about 26 K, the structure of this LIESST induced metastable high-spin state (HS-2) was very similar to that of HS-1 with regards to the Fe-phen bond lengths, but there were some differences in the bond lengths in the Fe-NCSe unit between HS-1 and HS-2. When HS-2 was warmed in the dark to 50 K, the resultant low-spin state (LS-2) had an essentially identical structure to LS-1. In all spin states, all of the shortest intermolecular contacts (in terms of van der Waals radii) involved the NCSe ligand, which may be important in describing the cooperativity in the solid state. The quality of the samples was confirmed by magnetic susceptibility and IR measurements.     

Long-range interactions between like homonuclear alkali metal diatoms

Long-range electrostatic and van der Waals coefficients up to terms of order R(-8) have been evaluated by the sum over states method using ab initio and time-dependent density functional theory. We employ several widely used density functionals and systematically investigate the convergence of the calculated results with basis set size. Static electric moments and polarizabilities up to octopole order are also calculated. We present values for Li(2) through K(2) which are in good agreement with existing values, in addition to new results for Rb(2) and Cs(2). Interaction potential curves calculated from these results are shown to agree well with high level ab initio theory. Preliminary results are reported that demonstrate the applicability of the method to larger alkali clusters.     

One- and two-photon spectroscopy of highly excited states of alkali-metal atoms on helium nanodroplets

Alkali-metal atoms captured on the surface of superfluid helium droplets are excited to high energies (≈3?eV) by means of pulsed lasers, and their laser-induced-fluorescence spectra are recorded. We report on the one-photon excitation of the (n+1)p←ns transition of K, Rb, and Cs (n=4, 5, and 6, respectively) and on the two-photon one-color excitation of the 5d←5s transition of Rb. Gated-photon-counting measurements are consistent with the relaxation rates of the bare atoms, hence consistent with the reasonable expectation that atoms quickly desorb from the droplet and droplet-induced relaxation need not be invoked.     

Electronic spectra of jet-cooled calix[4]arene and its van der Waals clusters: encapsulation of a neutral atom in a molecular bowl

The encapsulation of neutral guest has been studied for calix[4]arene (C4A) by forming van der Waals clusters with Ar and Ne in supersonic jets. The electronic transitions of these clusters suggest that the first Ar (Ne) is encapsulated inside the C4A cavity, while the next atoms are bound outside.     

Structure and dynamics of phthalocyanine-argonn (n = 1-4) complexes studied in helium nanodroplets

Van der Waals clusters of phthalocyanine with 1-4 argon atoms formed inside superfluid helium nanodroplets have been investigated by recording fluorescence excitation spectra as well as emission spectra. The excitation spectra feature a multitude of sharp lines when recorded in superfluid helium droplets in contrast to the respective spectra measured in a seeded supersonic beam (Cho et al. Chem. Phys. Lett. 2000, 326, 65). The pickup technique used for doping of the phthalocyanine and the argon into the droplets allows for nondestructive analysis of the cluster sizes. Alternation of the pickup sequence gives information on the binding site of the argon atoms. The investigation of dispersed emission spectra in helium droplets can be used as a special tool for the identification of 0(0)0 transitions within the variety of sharp lines seen in the excitation spectra. Thus, different isomers of the clusters can be distinguished. Moreover, the emission spectra reveal information on dynamic processes such as vibrational predissociation of the van der Waals complexes and interconversion among isomeric species. The binding energy of the phthalocyanine-argon1 complex in helium droplets was estimated to be at most 113 cm-1.     

The electronic spectroscopy and photophysics of tropolone and its van der Waals complexes

Studies of the electronic spectroscopy of tropolone in a variety of media are reviewed. Attempts to understand the effects of the surrounding medium on tropolone in its ground and first excited singlet states by studying the spectra and dynamics of its van der Waals complexes are described. The van der Waals complexes studied to date fall into two groups. Those which are primarily dispersively bound exhibit red microscopic solvent shifts, have observable tunneling doublet splittings and have structures in which the solvent species are bound above and below the plane of the chromophore in the 1∶1 and 1∶2 clusters. Those which are primarily hydrogen-bonded exhibit blue microscopic solvent shifts and exhibit no observable tunneling doublets.     

Electronic spectroscopy of biphenylene inside helium nanodroplets

We have recorded the S1 <-- S0 electronic spectra of Biphenylene and its Ar and O2 van der Waals complexes inside helium nanodroplets using beam depletion detection. In general, the spectrum is similar to the previously reported high-resolution REMPI spectrum. The zero phonon lines, however, are split similar to the previously reported tetracene case. The calculated potential energy surface predicts that helium atoms can simultaneously occupy all equivalent global minima positions. Therefore, it appears that the splitting cannot be explained either by different isomers or by tunneling. Furthermore, surprisingly the splitting is retained for the Ar van der Waals complexes (and possibly for the O2 complex as well). This case suggests that the current models of the origin of zero phonon line splitting and the helium solvation are incomplete.     

Formation and dynamics of van der Waals molecules in buffer-gas traps

We show that weakly bound He-containing van der Waals molecules can be produced and magnetically trapped in buffer-gas cooling experiments, and provide a general model for the formation and dynamics of these molecules. Our analysis shows that, at typical experimental parameters, thermodynamics favors the formation of van der Waals complexes composed of a helium atom bound to most open-shell atoms and molecules, and that complex formation occurs quickly enough to ensure chemical equilibrium. For molecular pairs composed of a He atom and an S-state atom, the molecular spin is stable during formation, dissociation, and collisions, and thus these molecules can be magnetically trapped. Collisional spin relaxation is too slow to affect trap lifetimes. However, (3)He-containing complexes can change spin due to adiabatic crossings between trapped and untrapped Zeeman states, mediated by the anisotropic hyperfine interaction, causing trap loss. We provide a detailed model for Ag(3)He molecules, using ab initio calculation of Ag-He interaction potentials and spin interactions, quantum scattering theory, and direct Monte Carlo simulations to describe formation and spin relaxation in this system. The calculated rate of spin-change agrees quantitatively with experimental observations, providing indirect evidence for molecular formation in buffer-gas-cooled magnetic traps. Finally, we discuss the possibilities for spectroscopic detection of these complexes, including a calculation of expected spectra for Ag(3)He, and report on our spectroscopic search for Ag(3)He, which produced a null result.     

Rydberg states of small NaAr(n)* clusters

The 4s and 5s Rydberg excited states of NaAr(n)* clusters are investigated using a pseudopotential quantum-classical method. While NaAr(n) clusters in their ground state are known to be weakly bound van der Waals complexes with Na lying at the surface of the argon cluster, isomers in 4s or 5s electronically excited states of small NaAr(n)* clusters (n< or =10) are found to be stable versus dissociation. The relationship between electronic excitation and cluster geometry is analyzed as a function of cluster size. For both 4s and 5s states, the stable exciplex isomers essentially appear as sodium-centered structures with similar topologies, converging towards those of the related NaAr(n)+ positive ions when the excitation level is increased. This is consistent with a Rydberg-type picture for the electronically excited cluster, described by a central sodium ion solvated by an argon shell, and an outer diffuse electron orbiting around this NaAr(n)+ cluster core.     

Density Functional Theory Study of Structure and Electronic Properties ofMgBen (n=2-12) Clusters

Determinations of the lowest energy structures and electronic properties of MgBen (n=2-12) clusters werecarried out by using density-functional theory. It was found that MgBe3 and MgBe9 clusters with higherbinding energy and larger HOMO-LUMO gap are more stable than the neighboring clusters. The electronicproperties from van der Waals to covalent and bulk metallic behavior in MgBen (n=2-12) clusters arediscussed with the evolution of the size, and the data indicates Magnesium-doped Beryllium clusters alreadyearly appear some metallic-like features than host Ben clusters. By analyzing electronic properties of MgBen(n=2-12) clusters, it can be concluded that Mg-doped reduces the stabilities of Be clusters.     

Electronics structures of Rb,Cs and some of their metallic oxides studied by photoelectron spectroscopy

Photoemission measurements with He and Ne resonance lines and Al Kα radiation are reported on bulk samples of the alkali metals Rb, Cs, their suboxides Cs₇O, Cs₁₁O₃ and (Cs₁₁O₃)Rb₇. For comparison, the Hel spectrum of the “normal” oxide Cs₂O is added. The occurrence of ionic clusters in a metallic matrix is typical for the suboxides. Binding energies, Auger transitions, and electron concentrations are discussed. The spectra of the suboxides show a narrow non-bonding oxygen 2p band at 2.7 eV. Different binding energies are found for Cs atoms in the clusters and for the atoms in the metallic regions of (Cs₁₁O₃)Cs₁₀. The compound Cs₁₁O₃ consists of ionic [Cs₁₁O₃]^5? clusters, which are bound by 5 free electrons in accordance with the chemical bond model.     

Photoionization and imaging spectroscopy of rubidium atoms attached to helium nanodroplets

Highly excited states of rubidium (Rb) atoms attached to helium (He) nanodroplets are studied by two-photon ionization spectroscopy in combination with electron and ion imaging. We find high yields of RbHe and RbHe(2) exciplexes when exciting to the 4D and 6P bands but not at the 6S band, in accord with a direct formation of exciplexes in binding RbHe pair potentials. Photoion spectra and angular distributions are in good agreement with a pseudodiatomic model for the RbHe(N) complex. Repulsive interactions in the excited states entail fast dissociation followed by ionization of free Rb atoms as well as of RbHe and RbHe(2) exciplexes.     

Size-specific interaction of alkali metal ions in the solvation of M+-benzene clusters by Ar atoms

The size-specific influence of the M+ alkali ion (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs) in the solvation process of the M+-benzene clusters by Ar atoms is investigated by means of molecular dynamic simulations. To fully understand the behavior observed in M+-bz-Ar(n) clusters, solvation is also studied in clusters containing either M+ or benzene only. The potential energy surfaces employed are based on a semiempirical bond-atom decomposition, which has been developed previously by some of the authors. The outcome of the dynamics is analyzed by employing radial distribution functions, studying the evolution of the distances between the Ar atoms and the alkali ion M+ or the benzene molecule for all M+-bz-Ar(n) clusters. For all members, in the M+-bz series, the benzene molecule (bz) is found to remain strongly bound to M+ even in the presence of solvent atoms. The radial distribution functions for the heavier clusters (K+-bz, Rb+-bz, and Cs+-bz), are found to be different than for the lighter (Na+-bz and Li+-bz) ones.     

Atomic bonding of neutral and cationic Mn clusters

By using the spin-polarized DV-X-LCAO method, electronic states of neutral and cationic Mn _N clusters (N=25) are calculated to study atomic bonding of Mn clusters. For the neutral Mn₂ cluster, the equilibrium interatomic distance is much larger than that of the bulk crystal. The 3d-derived states are nearly half-filled, and the 4s-derived states are almost fully occupied,i.e. the electronic configuration is close to that of the isolated atom. These indicate that the Mn₂ cluster is bound by the van der Waals force. The same situation is true for the larger neutral clusters while the equilibrium interatomic distance becomes smaller and thes-d mixing becomes larger. For the cationic clusters, the behaviors tend to become metallic. The equilibrium interatomic distances are smaller and thes-d mixings are larger than those of the corresponding neutral clusters. However, the Mn ₂ ⁺ and Mn ₄ ⁺ clusters still remain the van der Waals characters. Contrary to these clusters, the Mn ₅ ⁺ cluster, whose interatomic distance is smaller than that of the bulk crystal, shows strong metallic bonding. These results seem to correspond to the magic number observed on the mass spectroscopy of cationic Mn clusters.     

Evidence for a bound HeH2 halo molecule by diffraction from a transmission grating

The HeH2 van der Waals complex has been identified in a molecular beam produced by a cryogenic (T0=24.7 K) free jet expansion of a 1% H2 mixture in 99% 4He gas. The weakly bound HeH2 complexes in the beam are identified via their first order diffraction angles after passing through a 100 nm period transmission grating. An electron impact mass spectrometer analysis of the diffraction patterns is used to discriminate against ion fragments of the constituent gas clusters.     

On the role of van der Waals interaction in chemical reactions at low temperatures

It is shown that van der Waals interaction potential plays a crucial role in chemical reactions at low temperatures. By taking the Cl+HD reaction as an illustrative example, we demonstrate that quasibound states of the van der Waals potential preferentially undergo chemical reaction rather than vibrational predissociation. Prereaction occurs even when the wave functions of the quasibound states peak far out into the entrance channel, outside the region of the van der Waals well. It is found that chemical reaction dominates over nonreactive vibrational quenching in collisions of vibrationally excited HD molecules with ground state chlorine atoms at ultracold temperatures.     

Self‐Sorting of Two Hydrocarbon Receptors with One Carbonaceous Ligand

Non‐directional van der Waals forces in biological and synthetic supramolecular systems play important roles in molecular assembly, particularly in determining the distances of the interacting species. The van der Waals forces are normally used in combination with other directional forces and are considered to play a secondary role in achieving specificity and fidelity in molecular recognition. Using an ideal supramolecular system consisting solely of hydrogen and carbon atoms, we found that the van der Waals interactions enable the high‐fidelity sorting of two homomeric receptors during ligand‐induced assembly. The self‐sorting occurred in a narcissistic manner by repulsion of a competing diastereoisomeric receptor from the assembly. The structure–sorting relationship study with enantiomers further revealed the dominant role of the van der Waals forces in shape recognition for high‐fidelity self‐sorting.