Analysis of matrix nuclei spin flip satellite lines in EPR spectra: Application to trapped hydrogen atoms

The relative intensities and energy separation of allowed EPR lines of a paramagnetic species and partially forbidden spin flip satellite lines due to dipole-dipole coupling between the paramagnetic species and the matrix nuclei have been analyzed in a new way. The analysis allows one to determine both the distance to and the number of matrix nuclei that contribute to a given satellite transition. For hydrogen atoms trapped in a gamma-irradiated sulphuric acid glass at 77 K the analysis indicates that interaction occurs with four matrix protons at a distance of 2.15 Å. For trapped hydrogen atoms in phosphoric acid glass the analysis indicates interaction with four matrix protons at 2.37 Å.     

Forbidden matrix proton spin flip satelites in 70 GHz ESP spectra of solvated electrons. A geometrical model for the solvated electron in Methanol glass

Proton spin flip satellites have been observed for the first time in the ESR spectrum of solvated electrons in methanol glass at 70 GHz and ≈ 1.5 K. Analysis indicates a solvated electron structure characterized by an electron to OH proton distance of 2.28 ± 0.15 A and 4 ± 2 equivalent first solvation shell methanol molecules. A geometrical model for the solvated electron in methanol glass is suggested.     

Transient EPR emission spectra of a free radical trapped in a single crystal of chloranil

The EPR spectrum of a free trapped in single crystals of chloranil changes its phase from absorption to emission when the crystal is illuminated by visible light. The time evolution of the EPR signal is discussed in terms of the interaction between the doublet species and triplet excitons produced by light excitation.     

15N and 13C satellites in proton spectra of nitromethane oriented in a lyotropic solvent

¹⁵N and ¹³C satellites in the Proton spectrum of nitromethane oriented in a lyotropic solvent have been observed. Indirect as well as direct (¹³CH) and (¹⁵NH) couplings have been measured and the molecular structure has been derived.     

Libration motion of guest spin probe molecules in organic glasses: CW EPR and electron spin echo study

Echo-detected (ED) EPR spectra of nitroxide spin probes dissolved in glassy materials provide evidence that guest molecules in these media undergo fast librational motion. Theory of spin relaxation of a librating molecule is presented. The mean squared amplitude, , of this motion which can be derived from continuous wave (CW) EPR spectral splitting is found to depend linearly on temperature in the low temperature region. This may be ascribed to thermal harmonic vibrations. The slope of the linear dependence varies from glass to glass and seems to correlate with the strength of the intermolecular bonds and with a degree of the fragility of the glass. Above the glass transition temperature increases sharply. Different applications are discussed: study of molecular properties of glass, intracellular glass formation in plant tissues, structural investigations.     

Origin of additional satellites in electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of rare earth ion pairs

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectrum of pairs of two identical rare earth ions is considered in the case where the two ions feel slightly different crystal fields giving different g factors. When the differences Δg between the g factors give a Zeeman difference term ΔgβB₀ of the order of magnitude of the interaction between the two ions, the pair spectrum is composed of four lines instead of two: the usual doublet structure, and two additional satellites around the main central transitions. It is shown that for rare earth ions, the shape of the EPR pair spectrum is very sensitive to small g factor differences. This situation is illustrated by the case of neodymium pairs in the SrAl₁₂O₁₉ host.     

Nature of the optical absorption spectra of the trapped electron in irradiated frozen water solutions

Conclusions The optical absorption spectra of the trapped electron were measured in irradiated glasslike solutions of NaOH, KOH, and NaClO₄ in H₂O and D₂O at — 196°. The same as at room temperature, the spectra are caused by a transfer of the charge to the solvent.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1637–1639, September, 1966.     

Simulating electron spin resonance spectra of nitroxide spin labels from molecular dynamics and stochastic trajectories

Simulating electron spin resonance spectra of nitroxide spin labels from motional models is necessary for the quantitative analysis of experimental spectra. We present a framework for modeling the spin label dynamics by using trajectories such as those from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with stochastic treatment of the global protein tumbling. This is achieved in the time domain after two efficient numerical integrators are developed: One for the quantal dynamics of the spins and the other for the classical rotational diffusion. For the quantal dynamics, we propagate the relevant part of the spin density matrix in Hilbert space. For the diffusional tumbling, we work with quaternions, which enables the treatment of anisotropic diffusion in a potential expanded as a sum of spherical harmonics. Time-averaging arguments are invoked to bridge the gap between the smaller time step of the MD trajectories and the larger time steps appropriate for the rotational diffusion and/or quantal spin dynamics.     

Simulating electron spin resonance spectra of macromolecules labeled with two dipolar-coupled nitroxide spin labels from trajectories

An efficient method for simulating continuous-wave electron spin resonance spectra (ESR) of molecules labeled with two dipolar-coupled nitroxides from trajectories of the molecular motion is presented. Two approximate treatments of the dipolar spin evolution, resulting in significantly shorter simulation times, are examined in order to determine their range of applicability. The approach is illustrated in the context of a double-helical B-DNA. ESR spectra for DNA undergoing anisotropic global diffusion and internal stretching dynamics are calculated for three different labeling geometries with the spin labels bracketing, respectively, three, two and one base pairs. While multifrequency spectra of all three labeling schemes are very sensitive to DNA tumbling, the last one is found to be most informative about the local DNA dynamics.     

Coalescence of magnetically non-equivalent proton signals in NMR spectra and spin decoupling by torsional transitions

The complex effect of torsional librations on high resolution NMR spectra, which can coalesce non-equivalent proton signals with relatively high Δν_AB and also decouple spin systems by averaging the chemical shift in excited torsional states, is determined and analyzed.     

The matrix theory of electron spin multiplets for atoms and molecules

In this article a matrix method for the construction of spin multiplets (spinconfigurations) is suggested in order to solve the multielectron problem for atoms and mulecules by means of configuration interaction.A simple graphical way is given to enumerate configurations and to break their set into subsets of configurations related to the given projection of the total spin of a system S _z . It is found that all matrices in the theory of spin multiplets are convex and in cases of two, three, and four electrons are broken into blocks of an order no higher than 3.The model of the solution of the multielectron Schrödinger equation, in which the total spin of core electrons is zero, is considered. In this model the construction of linear combinations of configurations is reduced to the construction of those for but valence electrons.     

A new Lanczos-based algorithm for simulating high-frequency two-dimensional electron spin resonance spectra

The Lanczos algorithm (LA) is a useful iterative method for the reduction of a large matrix to tridiagonal form. It is a storage efficient procedure requiring only the preceding two Lanczos vectors to compute the next. The quasi-minimal residual (QMR) method is a powerful method for the solution of linear equation systems, Ax = b. In this report we provide another application of the QMR method: we incorporate QMR into the LA to monitor the convergence of the Lanczos projections in the reduction of large sparse matrices. We demonstrate that the combined approach of the LA and QMR can be utilized efficiently for the orthogonal transformation of large, but sparse, complex, symmetric matrices, such as are encountered in the simulation of slow-motional 1D- and 2D-electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra. Especially in the 2D-ESR simulations, it is essential that we store all of the Lanczos vectors obtained in the course of the LA recursions and maintain their orthogonality. In the LA-QMR application, the QMR weight matrix mitigates the problem that the Lanczos vectors lose orthogonality after many LA projections. This enables substantially more Lanczos projections, as required to achieve convergence for the more challenging ESR simulations. It, therefore, provides better accuracy for the eigenvectors and the eigenvalues of the large sparse matrices originating in 2D-ESR simulations than does the previously employed method, which is a combined approach of the LA and the conjugate-gradient (CG) methods, as evidenced by the quality and convergence of the 2D-ESR simulations. Our results show that very slow-motional 2D-ESR spectra at W-band (95 GHz) can be reliably simulated using the LA-QMR method, whereas the LA-CG consistently fails. The improvements due to the LA-QMR are of critical importance in enabling the simulation of high-frequency 2D-ESR spectra, which are characterized by their very high resolution to molecular orientation.     

EPR study of electron spin polarization in the photoexcited triplet state of chlorophyll a and b

The photoexcited triplet states of chlorophyll à and b are studied by the EPR method at ≈85 K using modulated light excitation. Both compounds show anomalous EPR line intensities and transient kinetics, indicating electron spin polarization (ESP) in the photoexcited triplet state. EPR studies, using Mg-tetraphenyl porphyrin (MgTPP) dissolved in n-octane show that ESP occurs also in that solvent. It is shown that the zero field splitting (ZFS) parameters of MgTPP depend strongly on the solvent. From the analysis of the data for chlorophyll a and b we evaluate: (1) the population rate constants (k_p); (2) the ratio between the population rate constants (A_p) (p = x, y, z) and, (3) the spin lattice relaxation rate W. In both chlorophylls the in-plane component, x, is predominantly populated and depopulated. The ZFS parameters have been also determined for the above compounds.     

Paramagnetism and shake-up satellites in X-ray photoelectron spectra

The correlation between paramagnetism and the shake-up satellites in the X-ray photoelectron spectra of the 3d transitional-metal compounds is examined and explained in terms of modified selection rules governing the shake-up transitions.     

Using Markov models to simulate electron spin resonance spectra from molecular dynamics trajectories

Simulating electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra directly from molecular dynamics simulations of a spin-labeled protein necessitates a large number (hundreds or thousands) of relatively long (hundreds of nanoseconds) trajectories. To meet this challenge, we explore the possibility of constructing accurate stochastic models of the spin label dynamics from atomistic trajectories. A systematic, two-step procedure, based on the probabilistic framework of hidden Markov models, is developed to build a discrete-time Markov chain process that faithfully captures the internal spin label dynamics on time scales longer than about 150 ps. The constructed Markov model is used both to gain insight into the long-lived conformations of the spin label and to generate the stochastic trajectories required for the simulation of ESR spectra. The methodology is illustrated with an application to the case of a spin-labeled poly alanine alpha helix in explicit solvent.     

Entangled electron and nuclear spin states in 15N@C60: density matrix tomography

Procedures of the preparation and detection of entangled electron-nuclear spin states in (15)N@C(60) by combining electron spin resonance and electron nuclear double resonance pulse techniques are presented. A quantitative evaluation of the complete density matrix is obtained by a special density matrix tomography. All four Bell states of a two qubit subsystem were analyzed and experimental decoherence times are presented. In addition, we estimate a quantum critical temperature of T(q)=7.76 K for this system at an electron spin resonance frequency of 95 GHz.     

The electron density-bond order matrix and the spin density in the restricted CI method

In the frame of the CI method including all singly and doubly excited configurations general expressions for the elements of the electron density-bond order matrix and for the spin density are derived for the ground and excited singlet and triplet molecular states.

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Zusammenfassung Im Rahmen der CI-Methode werden unter Einschluß aller einfach und doppelt angeregten Konfigurationen für den Grundzustand und die angeregten Singulett- und Triplett-Zustände allgemeine Ausdrücke für die Elemente der Elektronendichte- und Bindungsordnungs-Matrix sowie für die Spindichte angegeben.

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Résumé Dans le cadre de la méthode d'I.C. incluant toutes les configurations mono et diexcitées dans une base d'O.A. orthogonales, on donne les expressions générales pour les éléments de la matrice des densités électroniques et des indices de liaison et pour les densités de spin dans les états fondamentaux et excités singulet ou triplet.

     

Influence of conformation on the EPR spectrum of 5,5-dimethyl-1-hydroperoxy-1-pyrrolidinyloxyl: a spin trapped adduct of superoxide

Spin trapping, a technique used to characterize short-lived free radicals, consists of using a nitrone or nitroso compound to "trap" an unstable free radical as a long-lived aminoxyl that can be characterized by EPR spectroscopy. The resultant aminoxyl exhibits hyperfine splitting constants that are dependent on the spin trap and the free radical. Such is the case with 2,2-dimethyl-5-hydroxy-1-pyrrolidinyloxyl (DMPO-OH) and 2,2-dimethyl-5-hydroperoxy-1-pyrrodinyloxyl (DMPO-OOH) whose hyperfine splitting constants, A(N) = A(H) = 14.9 G and A(N) = 14.3 G, A(H)(beta) = 11.7 G, and A(H)(gamma) = 1.25 G, respectively, have been used to demonstrate the generation of HO(*) and O(2)(*)(-). However, to date, the source of the apparent A(H)(gamma) hyperfine splitting in DMPO-OOH is not known. We consider three possible explanations to account for the unique EPR spectrum of DMPO-OOH. The first is that the gamma-splitting arises from one of the hydrogen atoms at either carbon 3 or carbon 4 of DMPO-OOH. The second is that the gamma-splitting originates from the hydrogen atom of DMPO-OOH. The third is that the conformational properties of DMPO-R change upon going from DMPO-OH to DMPO-OOH. Experimental and theoretical chemical approaches as well as EPR spectral modeling were used to investigate which of these hypotheses may explain the asymmetric EPR spectrum of DMPO-OOH. From these studies it is shown that the 12-line EPR spectrum of DMPO-OOH results not from any proximal hydrogen, but from additional conformers of DMPO-OOH. Thus, the 1.25 G hyperfine splitting, which has been assigned as a gamma-splitting, is actually from two individual EPR spectra associated with different conformers of DMPO-OOH.     

On the interpretation of continuous wave electron spin resonance spectra of tempo-palmitate in 5-cyanobiphenyl

Electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements are highly informative on the dynamic behavior of molecules, which is of fundamental importance to understand their stability, biological functions and activities, and catalytic action. The wealth of dynamic information which can be extracted from a continuous wave electron spin resonance (cw-ESR) spectrum can be inferred by a basic theoretical approach defined within the stochastic Liouville equation formalism, i.e., the direct inclusion of motional dynamics in the form of stochastic (Fokker-Planck/diffusive) operators in the super Hamiltonian H governing the time evolution of the system. Modeling requires the characterization of magnetic parameters (e.g., hyperfine and Zeeman tensors) and the calculation of ESR observables in terms of spectral densities. The magnetic observables can be pursued by the employment of density functional theory which is apt, provided that hybrid functionals are employed, for the accurate computation of structural properties of molecular systems. Recently, an ab initio integrated computational approach to the in silico interpretation of cw-ESR spectra of multilabeled systems in isotropic fluids has been discussed. In this work we present the extension to the case of nematic liquid crystalline environments by performing simulations of the ESR spectra of the prototypical nitroxide probe 4-(hexadecanoyloxy)-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy in isotropic and nematic phases of 5-cyanobiphenyl. We first discuss the basic ingredients of the integrated approach, i.e., (1) determination of geometric and local magnetic parameters by quantum-mechanical calculations, taking into account the solvent and, when needed, the vibrational averaging contributions; (2) numerical solution of a stochastic Liouville equation in the presence of diffusive rotational dynamics, based on (3) parameterization of diffusion rotational tensor provided by a hydrodynamic model. Next we present simulated spectra with minimal resorting to fitting procedures, proving that the combination of sensitive ESR spectroscopy and sophisticated modeling can be highly helpful in providing three-dimensional structural and dynamic information on molecular systems in anisotropic environments.