Exact state-to-state quantum dynamics of the F + HD --> HF(v' = 2) + D reaction on model potential energy surfaces

In this paper, we present the results of a theoretical investigation on the dynamics of the title reaction at collision energies below 1.2 kcal/mol using rigorous quantum reactive scattering calculations. Vibrationally resolved integral and differential cross sections, as well as product rotational distributions, have been calculated using two electronically adiabatic potential energy surfaces, developed by us on the basis of semiempirical modifications of the entrance channel. In particular, we focus our attention on the role of the exothermicity and of the exit channel region of the interaction on the experimental observables. From the comparison between the theoretical results, insight about the main mechanisms governing the reaction is extracted, especially regarding the bimodal structure of the HF(v = 2) nascent rotational state distributions. A good overall agreement with molecular beam scattering experiments has been obtained.     

Study of the H+O2 reaction by means of quantum mechanical and statistical approaches: the dynamics on two different potential energy surfaces

The possible existence of a complex-forming pathway for the H+O(2) reaction has been investigated by means of both quantum mechanical and statistical techniques. Reaction probabilities, integral cross sections, and differential cross sections have been obtained with a statistical quantum method and the mean potential phase space theory. The statistical predictions are compared to exact results calculated by means of time dependent wave packet methods and a previously reported time independent exact quantum mechanical approach using the double many-body expansion (DMBE IV) potential energy surface (PES) [Pastrana et al., J. Phys. Chem. 94, 8073 (1990)] and the recently developed surface (denoted XXZLG) by Xu et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 122, 244305 (2005)]. The statistical approaches are found to reproduce only some of the exact total reaction probabilities for low total angular momenta obtained with the DMBE IV PES and some of the cross sections calculated at energy values close to the reaction threshold for the XXZLG surface. Serious discrepancies with the exact integral cross sections at higher energy put into question the possible statistical nature of the title reaction. However, at a collision energy of 1.6 eV, statistical rotationally resolved cross sections managed to reproduce the experimental cross sections for the H+O(2)(v=0,j=1)-->OH(v(')=1,j('))+O process reasonably well.     

Quantum wave packet study of the H+ + D2 reaction on diabatic potential energy surfaces

The exact three-dimensional nonadiabatic quantum dynamics calculations were carried out for the title reaction by a time-dependent wave packet approach based on a newly constructed diabatic potential energy surface (Kamisaka et al. J. Chem. Phys. 2002, 116, 654). Three processes including those of reactive charge transfer, nonreactive charge transfer, and reactive noncharge transfer were investigated to determine the initial state-resolved probabilities and reactive cross sections. The results show that a large number of resonances can be observed in the calculated probabilities due to the deep well on adiabatic ground surface and the dominant process is the reactive noncharge-transfer process. Some interesting dynamical features such as v-dependent and j-dependent behaviors of the probabilities are also revealed. In addition, a good agreement has been achieved in the comparison between the calculated quantum cross sections from the ground rovibrational initial state and the experimental measurement data.     

Renner-Teller quantum dynamics of the N(2D) + H2-->NH + H reaction

We present the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) and Renner-Teller (RT) quantum dynamics of the reaction (14)N((2)D)+(1)H(2)(X (1)Sigma(g) (+))-->NH(X (3)Sigma(-))+H((2)S), considering the NH(2) electronic states X (2)B(1) and A (2)A(1). These states correlate to the same (2)Pi(u) linear species, are coupled by RT nonadiabatic effects, and give NH(X (3)Sigma(-))+H and NH(a (1)Delta)+H, respectively. We develop the Hamiltonian matrix elements in the R embedding of the Jacobi coordinates and in the adiabatic electronic representation, using the permutation-inversion symmetry, and taking into account the nuclear-spin statistics. Collision observables are calculated via the real wave-packet (WP) and flux methods, using the potential-energy surfaces of Santoro et al. [J. Phys. Chem. A 106, 8276 (2002)]. WP snapshots show that the reaction proceeds via an insertion mechanism, and that the RT-WP avoids the A (2)A(1) potential barrier, jumping from the excited to the ground surface and giving mainly the NH(X (3)Sigma(-)) products. X (2)B(1) BO probabilities and cross sections show large tunnel effects and are approximately four to ten times larger than the A (2)A(1) ones. This implies a BO rate-constant ratio k(X (2)B(1))k(A (2)A(1)) approximately 10(5) at 300 K, i.e., a negligible BO formation of NH(a (1)Delta). When H(2) is rotationally excited, RT couplings reduce slightly the X (2)B(1) reaction observables, but enhance strongly the A (2)A(1) reactivity. These couplings are important at all collision energies, reduce the collision threshold, and increase remarkably reaction probabilities and cross sections. The RT k(A (2)A(1)) is thus approximately 3.3 order of magnitude larger than the BO value, and degeneracy-averaged, initial-state-resolved rate constants increase by approximately 13% and by approximately 47% at 300 and 500 K, respectively. Owing to an overestimation of the X (2)B(1) potential barrier, the calculated thermal rate is too low with respect to that observed, but we obtain a good agreement by shifting down the calculated cross section.     

Global potential energy surfaces for the Al+(1S) + H2 system

Global, three-dimensional multireference ab initio potential energy surfaces have been calculated for the AlH2+ system for the two lowest energy singlet states and the lowest energy triplet state. These surfaces were calculated using the multireference configuration interaction level of theory with a large basis set. The accuracy of the surfaces were checked against available experimental data and previous theoretical investigations. The areas of surface crossings between the ground state singlet surface and the lowest energy triplet surface and the first excited singlet surface have been thoroughly investigated in all three dimensions and found to give rise to two regions of surface crossings--an "early" crossing (reduced H2 distance) and a "late" crossing (enlarged H2 distance). It is anticipated that both of these crossings will be important in modeling the dynamics of the system. Each of the global potential energy surfaces were fit by interpolation methodology to obtain analytic representations of the surfaces. A representative classical simulation on the ground state singlet surface was performed and discussed.     

An eight-degree-of-freedom, time-dependent quantum dynamics study for the H2+C2H reaction on a new modified potential energy surface

An eight-dimensional time-dependent quantum dynamics wave packet approach is performed for the study of the H2+C2H-->H+C2H2 reaction system on a new modified potential energy surface (PES) [L.-P. Ju et al., Chem. Phys. Lett. 409, 249 (2005)]. This new potential energy surface is obtained by modifying Wang and Bowman's old PES [J. Chem. Phys. 101, 8646 (1994)] based on the new ab initio calculation. This new modified PES has a much lower transition state barrier height at 2.29 kcal/mol than Wang and Bowman's old PES at 4.3 kcal/mol. This study shows that the reactivity for this diatom-triatom reaction system is enhanced by vibrational excitations of H2, whereas the vibrational excitations of C2H only have a small effect on the reactivity. Furthermore, the bending excitations of C2H, compared to the ground state reaction probability, hinder the reactivity. The comparison of the rate constant between this calculation and experimental results agrees with each other very well. This comparison indicates that the new modified PES corrects the large barrier height problem in Wang and Bowman's old PES.     

High-dimensional ab initio potential energy surfaces for reaction dynamics calculations

There has been great progress in the development of potential energy surfaces (PESs) for reaction dynamics that are fits to ab initio energies. The fitting techniques described here explicitly represent the invariance of the PES with respect to all permutations of like atoms. A review of a subset of dynamics calculations using such PESs (currently 16 such PESs exist) is then given. Bimolecular reactions of current interest to the community, namely, H + CH(4) and F + CH(4), are focused on. Unimolecular reactions are then reviewed, with a focus on the photodissociation dynamics of H(2)CO and CH(3)CHO, where so-called "roaming" pathways have been discovered. The challenges for electronically non-adiabatic reactions, and associated PESs, are presented with a focus on the OH* + H(2) reaction. Finally, some thoughts on future directions and challenges are given.     

Accurate potential energy surface and quantum reaction rate calculations for the H+CH4-->H2+CH3 reaction

Calculations for the cumulative reaction probability N(E) (for J=0) and the thermal rate constant k(T) of the H+CH(4)-->H(2)+CH(3) reaction are presented. Accurate electronic structure calculations and a converged Shepard-interpolation approach are used to construct a potential energy surface which is specifically designed to allow the precise calculation of k(T) and N(E). Accurate quantum dynamics calculations employing flux correlation functions and multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree wave packet propagation compute N(E) and k(T) based on this potential energy surface. The present work describes in detail the various convergence test performed to investigate the accuracy of the calculations at each step. These tests demonstrate the predictive power of the present calculations. In addition, approximate approaches for reaction rate calculations are discussed. A quite accurate approximation can be obtained from a potential energy surface which includes only interpolation points on the minimum energy path.     

A quantum wave packet dynamics study of the N(2D) + H2 reaction

We report a dynamics study of the reaction N((2)D) + H(2) (v=0, j=0-5) --> NH + H using the time-dependent quantum wave packet method and a recently reported single-sheeted double many-body expansion potential energy surface for NH(2)(1(2)A' ') which has been modeled from accurate ab initio multireference configuration-interaction calculations. The calculated probabilities for (v=0, j=0-5) are shown to display resonance structures, a feature also visible to some extent in the calculated total cross sections for (v=0, j=0). A comparison between the calculated centrifugal-sudden and coupled-channel reaction probabilities validate the former approximation for the title system. Rate constants calculated using a uniform J-shifting scheme and averaged over a Boltzmann distribution of rotational states are shown to be in good agreement with the available experimental values. Comparisons with other theoretical results are also made.     

State-to-state quantum dynamics calculations of the C + OH reaction on the second excited potential energy surface

Accurate three-dimensional quantum-mechanical scattering calculations using a time-indepedent hyperspherical method have been performed for the C((3)P) + OH(X(2)Π) → CO(a(3)Π) + H((2)S) reaction on the second excited potential energy surface of 1(4)A″ symmetry. State-to-state reaction probabilities at a total angular momentum J = 0 have been computed in a wide range of collision energies. Many pronounced resonances have been found, espcially at low energy. The product vibrational distributions are noninverted. The present results therefore suggest that the title reaction proceeds via a long-lived intermediate complex. An approximate quantum-mechanical rate constant has also been calculated, and large differences are observed with the quasi-classical trajectory prediction.     

Exact quantum scattering study of the H + HS reaction on a new ab initio potential energy surface H2S (3A")

We present an exact quantum dynamical study and quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) calculations for the exchange and abstraction processes for the H + HS reaction. These calculations were based on a newly constructed high-quality potential energy surface for the lowest triplet state of H(2)S ((3)A"). The ab initio single-point energies were computed using complete active space self-consistent field and multi-reference configuration interaction method with a basis set of aug-cc-pV5Z. The time-dependent wave packet (TDWP) method was used to calculate the total reaction probabilities and integral cross sections over the collision energy (E(col)) range of 0.0-2.0 eV for the reactant HS initially at the ground state and the first vibrationally excited state. It was found that the initial vibrational excitation of HS enhances both abstraction and exchange processes. In addition, a good agreement is found between QCT and TDWP reaction probabilities at the total momentum J = 0 as a function of collision energy for the H + HS (v = 0, j = 0) reaction.     

Ab initio potential energy surfaces of the ion-molecule reaction: C2H2 + O+

High level ab initio calculations using complete active space self-consistent field and multi reference single and double excitation configuration interaction methods with cc-pVDZ (correlation consistent polarized valence double zeta) and cc-pVTZ (triple zeta) basis sets have been performed to elucidate the reaction mechanism of the ion-molecule reaction, C2H2(1Sigmag+) + O+(4S), for which collision experiment has been performed by Chiu et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 109, 5300 (1998)]. The minor low-energy process leading to the weak spin-forbidden product C2H2+ (2Piu) + O(1D) has been studied previously and will not be discussed here. The major pathways to form charge-transfer (CT) products, C2H2+ (2Piu) + O(3P) (CT1) and C2H2+ (4A2) + O(3P) (CT2), and the covalently bound intermediates are investigated. The approach of the oxygen atom cation to acetylene goes over an energy barrier TS1 of 29 kcal/mol (relative to the reactant) and adiabatically leads the CT2 product or a weakly bound intermediate Int1 between CT2 products. This transition state TS1 is caused by the avoided crossing between the reactant and CT2 electronic states. As the C-O distance becomes shorter beyond the above intermediate, the C1 reaction pathway is energetically more favorable than the Cs pathway and goes over the second transition state TS2 of a relative energy of 39 kcal/mol. Although this TS connects diabatically to the covalent intermediate Int2, there are many states that interact adiabatically with this diabatic state and these lead to the other charge-transfer product CT1 via either of several nonadiabatic transitions. These findings are consistent with the experiment, in which charge transfer and chemical reaction products are detected above 35 and 39 kcal/mol collision energies, respectively.     

Quantum mechanical and quasiclassical trajectory scattering calculations for the C(1D) + H2 reaction on the second excited 1 1A" potential energy surface

Time-independent quantum mechanical (QM) and quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) scattering calculations have been carried out for the C(1D) + H2 --> CH + H reaction at a collision energy of 80 meV on a newly developed ab initio potential energy surface [B. Bussery-Honvault et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 7, 1476 (2005)] of 1 1A" symmetry, corresponding to the second singlet state 1 1B1 of CH2. A general good agreement has been found between the QM and QCT rotational distributions and differential cross sections (DCSs). In both cases, DCSs are strongly peaked in the forward direction with a small contribution in the backward direction in contrast with those obtained on the 1 1A' surface, which are nearly symmetric. Rotational distributions obtained on the 1 1A" surface are somewhat colder than those calculated on the 1 1A' surface. The specific dynamics and the contribution of the 1 1A" surface to the overall reactivity of this system are discussed.     

Photodissociation dynamics of the reaction H2CO-->H+HCO via the singlet (S0) and triplet (T1) surfaces

We have explored the photodissociation dynamics of the reaction H(2)CO+hnu-->H+HCO in the range of 810-2600 cm(-1) above the reaction threshold. Supersonically cooled formaldehyde was excited into selected J(Ka,Kc) rotational states of six vibrational levels (1(1)4(1), 5(1), 2(2)6(1), 2(2)4(3), 2(3)4(1), and 2(4)4(1)) in the A((1)A2) state. The laser induced fluorescence spectra of the nascent HCO fragment provided detailed product state distributions. When formaldehyde was excited into the low-lying levels 1(1)4(1), 5(1), and 2(2)6(1), at E(avail)<1120 cm(-1), the product state distribution can be modeled qualitatively by phase space theory. These dynamics are interpreted as arising from a reaction path on the barrierless S0 surface. When the initial states 2(2)4(3) and 2(3)4(1) were excited (E(avail)=1120-1500 cm(-1)), a second type of product state distribution appeared. This second distribution peaked sharply at low N, Ka and was severely truncated in comparison with those obtained from the lower lying states. At the even higher energy of 2(4)4(1) (E(avail) approximately 2600 cm(-1)) the sharply peaked distribution appears to be dominant. We attribute this change in dynamics to the opening up of the triplet channel to produce HCO. The theoretical height of the barrier on the T1 surface lies between 1700 and 2100 cm(-1) and so we consider the triplet reaction to proceed via tunneling at the intermediate energies and proceed over the barrier at the higher energies. Considerable population was observed in the excited (0,0,1) state for all initial H(2)CO states that lie above the appearance energy. Rotational populations in the (0,0,1) state dropped more rapidly with (N,Ka) than did the equivalent populations in (0,0,0). This indicates that, although individual rotational states are highly populated in (0,0,1), the total v3=1 population might not be so large. Specific population was also measured in the almost isoenergetic Kc and J states. No consistent population preference was found for either asymmetry or spin-rotation component.     

Collision energy dependence of the O(1D) + HCl --> OH + Cl(2P) reaction studied by crossed beam scattering and quasiclassical trajectory calculations on ab initio potential energy surfaces

The dynamics of the O(1D) + HCl --> OH + Cl(2P) reaction are investigated by a crossed molecular beam ion-imaging method and quasiclassical trajectory calculations on the three ab initio potential energy surfaces, the ground 1(1)A' and two excited (1(1)A' and 2(1)A') states. The scattering experiment was carried out at collision energies of 4.2, 4.5, and 6.4 kcal/mol. The observed doubly differential cross sections (DCSs) for the Cl(2P) product exhibit almost no collision energy dependence over this inspected energy range. The nearly forward-backward symmetric DCS indicates that the reaction proceeds predominantly on the ground-state potential energy surface at these energies. Variation of the forward-backward asymmetry with collision energy is interpreted using an osculating complex model. Although the potential energy surfaces obtained by CASSCF-MRCI ab initio calculations exhibit relatively low potential barriers of 1.6 and 6.5 kcal/mol for 1(1)A' and 2(1)A', respectively, the dynamics calculations indicate that contributions of these excited states are small at the collision energies lower than 15.0 kcal/mol. Theoretical DCSs calculated for the ground-state reaction pathway agree well with the observed ones. These experimental and theoretical results suggest that the titled reaction at collision energies less than 6.5 kcal/mol is predominantly via the ground electronic state.     

Exact quantum mechanical reaction probabilities for the collinear H + H2 reaction on a porter-karplus potential energy surface

Exact quantum mechanical calculation of the reaction probability for the collinear H + H₂ reaction on a Porter-Karplus potential energy surface are carried out by the finite-difference boundary value method at 6 energes in the threshold region and compared to close coupling, distorted wave, classical S matrix, transition state theory, and vibrational adiabatic calculations.     

Exploring the accuracy level of new potential energy surfaces for the F + HD reactions: from exact quantum rate constants to the state-to-state reaction dynamics

Exact quantum reactive scattering calculations in the collision energy range 1-250 meV have been carried out for both the isotopic product channels of the title system. The dynamical studies compares an ab initio potential energy surface (PES) recently appeared in the literature (J. Chem. Phys., 2008, 129, 011103) with other phenomenological PESs. Vibrational branching ratios, cross sections and rate constants are presented and compared with molecular beam scattering experiments as well as with chemical kinetics data. In particular, the agreement of the vibrational branching ratios with experimental measurements is improved with respect to previous studies on other PESs, mainly because of the presence of a broad peak in the HF(v' = 3) integral cross section completely absent in the previous simulations. This feature, observed by molecular beam experiments, is the fingerprint of a new reaction mechanism operative in the dynamics described by the new PES. A conjecture for its origin, able to explain many of its characteristic aspects, is analyzed and discussed.