The ionization energy of Be2, and spectroscopic characterization of the (1)3Sigmau+, (2)3Pig, and (3)3Pig states

Low lying electronic states of the beryllium dimer were investigated by laser induced fluorescence (LIF) and resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) techniques. Be(2) was formed by pulsed laser ablation of Be metal in the presence of helium carrier gas, followed by a free jet expansion into vacuum. Several previously unobserved states of the dimer were characterized. These included transitions of the triplet manifold (2)(3)Pi(g) <-- (1)(3)Sigma(u)+ and (3)(3)Pi(g) <-- (1)(3)Sigma(u)+, for which rotationally resolved bands were obtained. In addition, transitions to the v' = 10-18 vibrational levels of the A (1)Pi(u) state were recorded. Photoionization efficiency (PIE) measurements were used to determine an accurate ionization energy (IE) for Be(2) of 7.418(5) eV and the term energy for (1)(3)Sigma(u)+. Above the ionization threshold the PIE spectrum was found to be highly structured, consisting of overlapping Rydberg series that converged on excited vibrational levels of Be(2)+. Analysis of these series yielded a vibration frequency for the X(2)Sigma(u)+ state of 498(20) cm(-1). The bond dissociation energy for Be(2)+, deduced from the IE measurement, was 16 072(40) cm(-1). Multi-reference configuration interaction (MRCI) calculations were carried out for Be(2) and Be(2)+, yielding results that were in excellent agreement with the experimental observations.     

Spectroscopic investigation of Al2N and its anion via negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy

Negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy was used to elucidate the electronic and geometric structure of the gaseous Al2N/Al2N- molecules, using photodetachment wavelengths of 416 nm (2.977 eV), 355 nm (3.493 eV), and 266 nm (4.661 eV). Three electronic bands are observed and assigned to the X2Sigma(u)+ <-- X1Sigma(g)+, A2Pi(u) <-- X1Sigma(g)+, and B2Sigma(g)+ <-- X1Sigma(g)+ electronic transitions, with the caveat that one or both excited states may be slightly bent. With the aid of density functional theory calculations and Franck-Condon spectral simulations, we determine the adiabatic electron affinity of Al2N, 2.571 +/- 0.008 eV, along with geometry changes upon photodetachment, vibrational frequencies, and excited-state term energies. Observation of excitation of the odd vibrational levels of the antisymmetric stretch (nu3) suggests a breakdown of the Franck-Condon approximation, caused by the vibronic coupling between the X2Sigma(u)+ and B2Sigma(g)+ electronic states through the nu3 mode.     

Spectroscopy of excited states of carbon anions above the photodetachment threshold

Electronic transitions of C3- and C5- to states lying above the electron affinity of the neutral (EA) have been recorded in the gas phase by laser photodetachment spectroscopy. The excited states are identified by comparison with absorption spectra for the mass-selected ions deposited in neon matrices and with ab initio calculations. The C 2 sigma u (+)-X 2 pi g transition and two higher energy band systems are observed for C3-, corresponding to excitation energies more than 1.5 eV above the EA. In the case of C5- the strongest features, at about 0.6 eV above the EA, are attributed to close lying 2 delta g-X 2 pi u and 2 sigma g(-)-X 2 pi u transitions. The dominant configurations in these states identify them as long-lived Feshbach resonances. Lifetimes for these resonances in C3- are estimated to be between 200 fs and 3 ps from the band widths.     

On the R-dependence of the spin-orbit coupling constant: Potential energy functions of Xe(2) (+) by high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio quantum chemistry

The pulsed-field-ionization zero-kinetic-energy photoelectron spectrum of Xe(2) has been measured between 97 350 and 108 200 cm(-1), following resonant two-photon excitation via selected vibrational levels of the C 0(u) (+) Rydberg state of Xe(2). Transitions to three of the six low-lying electronic states of Xe(2) (+) could be observed. Whereas extensive vibrational progressions were observed for the transitions to the I(32g) and I(32u) states, only the lowest vibrational levels of the II(12u) state could be detected. Assignments of the vibrational quantum numbers were derived from the analysis of the isotopic shifts and from the modeling of the potential energy curves. Adiabatic ionization energies, dissociation energies, and vibrational constants are reported for the I(32g) and the I(32u) states. Multireference configurational interaction and complete active space self-consistent field calculations have been performed to investigate the dependence of the spin-orbit coupling constant on the internuclear distance. The energies of vibrational levels, measured presently and in a previous investigation (Rupper et al., J. Chem. Phys. 121, 8279 (2004)), were used to determine the potential energy functions of the six low-lying electronic states of Xe(2) (+) using a global model that includes the long-range interaction and treats, for the first time, the spin-orbit interaction as dependent on the internuclear separation.     

A new mechanism for the production of highly vibrationally excited OH in the mesosphere: an ab initio study of the reactions of O2(A 3Sigmau+ and A' 3Deltau)+H

In an attempt to explain the observed nightglow emission from OH(v=10) in the mesosphere that has the energy greater than the exothermicity of the H+O(3) reaction, potential energy surfaces were calculated for reactions of high lying electronic states of O(2)(A (3)Sigma(u) (+) and A' (3)Delta(u)) with atomic hydrogen H((2)S) to produce the ground state products OH((2)Pi)+O((3)P). From collinear two-dimensional scans, several adiabatic and nonadiabatic pathways have been identified. Multiconfigurational single and double excitation configuration interaction calculations show that the adiabatic pathways on a (4)Delta potential surface from O(2)(A' (3)Delta)+H and a (4)Sigma(+) potential surface from O(2)(A (3)Sigma(u) (+))+H are the most favorable, with the zero-point corrected barrier heights of as low as 0.191 and 0.182 eV, respectively, and the reactions are fast. The transition states for these pathways are collinear and early, and the reaction coordinate suggests that the potential energy release of ca. 3.8 eV (larger than the energy required to excite OH to v=10) is likely to favor high vibrational excitation.     

Exploring the Jahn-Teller and pseudo-Jahn-Teller conical intersections in the ethane radical cation

We report a theoretical account on the static and dynamic aspects of the Jahn-Teller (JT) and pseudo-Jahn-Teller (PJT) interactions in the ground and first excited electronic states of the ethane radical cation. The findings are compared with the experimental photoionization spectrum of ethane. The present theoretical approach is based on a model diabatic Hamiltonian and with the parameters derived from ab initio calculations. The optimized geometry of ethane in its electronic ground state (1A1g) revealed an equilibrium staggered conformation belonging to the D3d symmetry point group. At the vertical configuration, the ethane radical cation belongs to this symmetry point group. The ground and low-lying electronic states of this radical cation are of 2Eg, 2A1g, 2Eu, and 2A2u symmetries. Elementary symmetry selection rule suggests that the degenerate electronic states of the radical cation are prone to the JT distortion when perturbed along the degenerate vibrational modes of eg symmetry. The 2A1g state is estimated to be approximately 0.345 eV above the 2Eg state and approximately 2.405 eV below the 2Eu state at the vertical configuration. The symmetry selection rule also suggests PJT crossings of the 2A1g and the 2Eg electronic states of the radical cation along the vibrational modes of eg symmetry and such crossings appear to be energetically favorable also. The irregular vibrational progressions, with numerous shoulders and small peaks, observed below 12.55 eV in the experimental recording are manifestations of the dynamic (E x e)-JT effect. Our findings revealed that the PJT activity of the degenerate vibrational modes is particularly strong in the 2Eg-2A1g electronic manifold which leads to a broad and diffuse structure of the observed photoelectron band.     

Intramolecular vibrational redistribution in Ne-Br2: the signature of intermediate resonances in the excitation spectrum

Quantum-mechanical simulations of the Ne-Br(2)(B,v') excitation spectra produced after vibrational predissociation in the v'=20-35 range are reported. The aim is to investigate the signature in the excitation spectra of intermediate resonances lying in the lower v相似文献   

Predissociation mechanism for the lowest 1 Pi u states of N2

Separate coupled-channel Schr?dinger-equation (CSE) models of the interacting (1)Pi(u) (b,c,o) and (3)Pi(u) (C,C(')) states of N(2) are combined, through the inclusion of spin-orbit interactions, to produce a five-channel CSE model of the N(2) predissociation. Comparison of the model calculations with an experimental database, consisting principally of detailed new measurements of the vibrational and isotopic dependence of the (1)Pi(u) linewidths and lifetimes, provides convincing evidence that the predissociation of the lowest (1)Pi(u) levels in N(2) is primarily an indirect process, involving spin-orbit coupling between the b (1)Pi(u)- and C (3)Pi(u)-state levels, the latter levels themselves heavily predissociated electrostatically by the C(') (3)Pi(u) continuum. The well-known large width of the b(v=3) level in (14)N(2) is caused by an accidental degeneracy with C(v=9). This CSE model provides the first quantitative explanation of the predissociation mechanism for the dipole-accessible (1)Pi(u) states of N(2), and is thus likely to prove useful in the construction of realistic radiative-transfer and photochemical models for nitrogen-rich planetary atmospheres.     

Electronically forbidden (5sigmau-->ksigmau) photoionization of CS2: mode-specific electronic-vibrational coupling

Vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectroscopy of the CS(2) (+)(B (2)Sigma(u) (+)) state is used to show how nontotally symmetric vibrations "activate" a forbidden electronic transition in the photoionization continuum, specifically, a 5sigma(u)-->ksigma(u) shape resonance, that would be inaccessible in the absence of a symmetry breaking vibration. This electronic channel is forbidden owing to inversion symmetry selection rules, but it can be accessed when a nonsymmetric vibration is excited, such as bending or antisymmetric stretching. Photoelectron spectra are acquired for photon energies 17kpi(g), influences the symmetric stretch branching ratio. All of the observed effects can be understood within the framework of the Chase adiabatic approximation, i.e., the Born-Oppenheimer approximation applied to photoionization.     

Spectroscopy and metastability of CO2 2+ molecular ions

The spectroscopy and metastability of the carbon dioxide doubly charged ion, the CO(2) (2+) dication, have been studied with photoionization experiments: time-of-flight photoelectron photoelectron coincidence (TOF-PEPECO), threshold photoelectrons coincidence (TPEsCO), and threshold photoelectrons and ion coincidence (TPEsCO ion coincidence) spectroscopies. Vibrational structure is observed in TOF-PEPECO and TPEsCO spectra of the ground and first two excited states. The vibrational structure is dominated by the symmetric stretch except in the TPEsCO spectrum of the ground state where an antisymmetric stretch progression is observed. All three vibrational frequencies are deduced for the ground state and symmetric stretch and bending frequencies are deduced for the first two excited states. Some vibrational structure of higher electronic states is also observed. The threshold for double ionization of carbon dioxide is reported as 37.340+/-0.010 eV. The fragmentation of energy selected CO(2) (2+) ions has been investigated with TPEsCO ion coincidence spectroscopy. A band of metastable states from approximately 38.7 to approximately 41 eV above the ground state of neutral CO(2) has been observed in the experimental time window of approximately 0.1-2.3 mus with a tendency towards shorter lifetimes at higher energies. It is proposed that the metastability is due to slow spin forbidden conversion from bound excited singlet states to unbound continuum states of the triplet ground state. Another result of this investigation is the observation of CO(+)+O(+) formation in indirect dissociative double photoionization below the threshold for formation of CO(2) (2+). The threshold for CO(+)+O(+) formation is found to be 35.56+/-0.10 eV or lower, which is more than 2 eV lower than previous measurements.     

Coupled-cluster studies of the lowest excited states of the 11-cis-retinal chromophore

The first few excited states of the 11-cis-retinal (PSB11) chromophore have been studied at the coupled-cluster approximative singles and doubles (CC2) level using triple-zeta quality basis sets augmented with double sets of polarisation functions. The two lowest vertical excitation energies of 2.14 and 3.21 eV are in good agreement with recently reported experimental values of 2.03 and 3.18 eV obtained in molecular beam measurements. Calculations at the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) level using the B3LYP hybrid functional yield vertical excitation energies of 2.34 and 3.10 eV for the two lowest states. Zero-point vibrational energy (ZPVE) corrections of -0.09 and -0.17 eV were deduced from the harmonic vibrational frequencies for the ground and excited states calculated at the density functional theory (DFT) and TDDFT level, respectively, using the B3LYP hybrid functional.     

Ground state potential energy curve and dissociation energy of MgH

New high-resolution visible emission spectra of the MgH molecule have been recorded with high signal-to-noise ratios using a Fourier transform spectrometer. Many bands of the A 2Pi-->X 2Sigma+ and B' 2Sigma+-->X 2Sigma+ electronic transitions of 24MgH were analyzed; the new data span the v' = 0-3 levels of the A 2Pi and B'2Sigma+ excited states and the v'=0-11 levels of the X 2Sigma+ ground electronic state. The vibration-rotation energy levels of the perturbed A 2Pi and B' 2Sigma+ states were fitted as individual term values, while those of the X 2Sigma+ ground state were fitted using the direct-potential-fit approach. A new analytic potential energy function that imposes the theoretically correct attractive potential at long-range, and a radial Hamiltonian that includes the spin-rotation interaction were employed, and a significantly improved value for the ground state dissociation energy of MgH was obtained. The v'=11 level of the X 2Sigma+ ground electronic state was found to be the highest bound vibrational level of 24MgH, lying only about 13 cm(-1) below the dissociation asymptote. The equilibrium dissociation energy for the X 2Sigma+ ground state of 24MgH has been determined to be De=11104.7+/-0.5 cm(-1) (1.37681+/-0.00006 eV), whereas the zero-point energy (v'=0) is 739.11+/-0.01 cm(-1). The zero-point dissociation energy is therefore D0=10365.6+/-0.5 cm(-1) (1.28517+/-0.00006 eV). The uncertainty in the new experimental dissociation energy of MgH is more than 2 orders of magnitude smaller than that for the best value available in the literature. MgH is now the only hydride molecule other than H2 itself for which all bound vibrational levels of the ground electronic state are observed experimentally and for which the dissociation energy is determined with subwavenumber accuracy.     

Fine structure in the VUV absorption spectrum of neopentane at 16 eV

The photoabsorption of neopentane (C(CH₃)₄) has been measured for photon energies from 10 to 30 eV with synchrotron radiation. Sharp absorption bands are observed around 16 eV on top of a strong continuum. These can be grouped into a p-like Rydberg series with accompanying vibrational sub-bands. The nature of the Rydberg states is discussed.     

Quantum dynamics of Ne-Br2 vibrational predissociation: the role of continuum resonances as doorway states

Wave-packet simulations of the Ne-Br2(B,upsilon') vibrational predissociation dynamics in the range upsilon' = 16-29 are reported. The aim is to interpret recent time-dependent pump-probe experiments [Cabrera et al., J. Chem. Phys. 123, 054311 (2005)]. Good agreement is found between the calculated and the experimental lifetimes corresponding to decay of the Ne-Br2(B,upsilon') initial state and to appearance of Br2(B,upsilon相似文献   

Spectroscopy above the ionization threshold: Dissociative recombination of the ground vibrational level of N(2) (+)

Comprehensive theoretical calculations are reported for the dissociative recombination of the lowest vibrational level of the N(2) (+) ground state. Fourteen dissociative channels, 21 electron capture channels, and 48 Rydberg series including Rydberg states having the first excited state of the ion as core are described for electron energies up to 1.0 eV. The calculation of potential curves, electron capture and predissociation widths, cross sections and rate constants are described. The cross sections and rate constants are calculated using Multichannel Quantum Defect Theory which allows for efficient handling of the Rydberg series. The most important dissociative channel is 2(3)Π(u) followed by 4(3)Π(u). Dissociative states that do not cross the ion within the ground vibrational level turning points play a significant role in determining the cross section structure and at isolated energies can be more important than states having a favorable crossing. By accounting for autoionization, the interactions between resonances, between dissociative states, and between resonances and dissociative states it is found that the cross section can be viewed as a complex dissociative recombination spectrum in which resonances overlap and interfere. The detailed cross section exhibits a rapid variation in atomic quantum yields for small changes in the electron energy. A study of this rapid variation by future high resolution storage ring experiments is suggested. A least squares fit to the calculated rate constant from the ground vibrational level is 2.2+0.2-0.4×10(-7)×(T(e)/300)(-0.40)?cm(3)/sec for electron temperatures, T(e), between 100 and 3000 K and is in excellent agreement with experimentally derived values.     

Potential energy curves of diatomic molecular ions from high-resolution photoelectron spectra. II. The first six electronic states of Xe2 +

The pulsed-field-ionization zero-kinetic-energy photoelectron spectrum of Xe(2) has been measured between 90 000 and 109 000 cm(-1) following single-photon excitation from the ground neutral state. Transitions to five of the six low-lying electronic states of Xe(2) (+) could be observed. Whereas extensive vibrational progressions were observed for the X0(g) (+)-->I(1/2u), I(3/2g), and II(1/2u) photoelectron transitions, only the lowest vibrational levels of the I(3/2u) and II(1/2g) states could be detected. Unambiguous assignments of the vibrational quantum numbers were derived from the analysis of the isotopic shifts of the vibrational bands and of the intensity distribution and from the modeling of the potential energy curves. Analytical potential energy curves of spectroscopic accuracy (i.e., approximately 1 meV) were determined for all six low-lying electronic states using a global model, which includes the first (charge-induced dipole, proportional to 1/R(4)) member of the long-range interaction series and treats the spin-orbit interaction explicitly. The assumption of an R-independent spin-orbit coupling constant was tested and found to be an excellent approximation.     

Cross sections for the ionization continuum of H2 in the 15.3-17.2 eV energy range

The absolute values for the cross sections of the ionization continuum of H2 had been measured at low energy (15.3-17.2 eV) Both absorption and ionization spectra were simultaneously recorded with linear response and absolute values, using a 10 m normal incidence monochromator installed on a synchrotron undulator beamline. The vibrational thresholds can be clearly seen as steps in the experimental data. The agreement between experimental values and theoretical ones is very good except around the first and second vibrational thresholds where the experimental data exceed the theoretical ones.     

Electronic excited-state mixing in NeCl2

Ab initio calculations that explicitly include spin-orbit interactions are reported for the NeCl2 system of electronic states. A surprising curve crossing is observed for the C2v, T-shaped geometry. Away from the C2v geometry, the states mix, as expected. On the basis of these new results we propose a new mechanism for electronic energy transfer from highly vibrationally excited levels of the B electronic state of the chlorine molecule. It is proposed that as long as vibrational predissociation of NeCl2 proceeds by direct coupling of the initial state to the continuum states the Ne atom does not sample geometries that efficiently quench the Cl2 B electronic state. However, when the vibrational dynamics changes to the intramolecular vibrational relaxation regime the Ne atom becomes quite effective at coupling the Cl2 B3Pi0u+ state with a 3Pi2g state.     

Density functional theory and multireference configuration interaction studies on low-lying excited states of TiO2

Using density functional theory at the BPW916-311+G(3df) level, optimized geometries and energies of the lowest singlet, triplet, and quintet A(1), A(2), B(1), B(2)(C(2v)) states of the TiO(2) molecule were obtained. TiO(2) has a (1)A(1) ground state in C(2v) symmetry. Adiabatic excitation energies of the low-lying singlet and triplet states range from 2.1 to 3.0 eV. The (1,3)A(2) states optimize at bond angles of about 140 degrees , lying only 0.06 eV below linear (1,3)Delta(u), whereas (1,3)B(1) and (1,3)B(2), with bond angles of 120 degrees and 96 degrees , respectively, lie 0.3-0.4 eV below the respective (1,3)Pi(u) or (1,3)Delta(u) states. Minima with short O-O distances of approximately 1.46 A, at energies of 4.2 and 4.7 eV, were found for (1)A(1) and (3)A(1). The C(2v) minima of the lowest (1)B(1) and (3)B(1) states are saddle points, suggesting lower-energy structures in C(s) symmetry. The C(2v) quintet states start at energies of 5.7 eV. Multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) methods, employing a polarized valence triple-zeta basis set, lead to similar geometries and energies. MRCI vertical excitation energies up to 4.6 eV and oscillator strengths are given. The calculated excitation energy of 2.2 eV for (1)B(2) agrees well with 2.3 eV from a fluorescence spectrum. The vertical electron detachment energy of TiO(2) (-) is 1.5 eV, in good agreement with 1.6 eV from anion photoelectron spectroscopy. An observed second photoelectron band corresponds to (1)B(2) and/or (3)B(2), but the assignment of a third band could not be verified. Vibrational frequencies, ionization energies, electron affinities, and dissociation energies are given.     

New view of the ICN A continuum using photoelectron spectroscopy of ICN-

Negative-ion photoelectron spectroscopy of ICN(-) (X??(2)Σ(+)) reveals transitions to the ground electronic state (X??(1)Σ(+)) of ICN as well as the first five excited states ((3)Π(2), (3)Π(1), Π(0(-) ) (3), Π(0(+) ) (3), and (1)Π(1)) that make up the ICN A continuum. By starting from the equilibrium geometry of the anion, photoelectron spectroscopy characterizes the electronic structure of ICN at an elongated I-C bond length of 2.65 A?. Because of this bond elongation, the lowest three excited states of ICN ((3)Π(2), (3)Π(1), and Π(0(-) ) (3)) are resolved for the first time in the photoelectron spectrum. In addition, the spectrum has a structured peak that arises from the frequently studied conical intersection between the Π(0(+) ) (3) and (1)Π(1) states. The assignment of the spectrum is aided by MR-SO-CISD calculations of the potential energy surfaces for the anion and neutral ICN electronic states, along with calculations of the vibrational levels supported by these states. Through thermochemical cycles involving spectrally narrow transitions to the excited states of ICN, we determine the electron affinity, EA(ICN), to be 1.34(5) (+0.04∕-0.02) eV and the anion dissociation energy, D(0)(X??(2)Σ(+) I-CN(-)), to be 0.83 (+0.04/-0.02) eV.