Multireference configuration interaction study on spectroscopic parameters and molecular constants of PO and PO+

The highly accurate valence internally contracted multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) approach has been employed to investigate the potential energy curves (PECs) for the X²Π, b⁴Σ^?, C²Σ^? states of PO and the X¹Σ⁺ state of PO⁺. For these electronic states, the spectroscopic parameters of the isotopes (P¹⁶O, P¹⁸O, P¹⁶O⁺, and P¹⁸O⁺) have been determined and compared with those of the investigations reported in the literature. The comparison shows that excellent agreement exists between the present results and the available experiments. With the PECs determined here, the first 30 vibrational states for P¹⁶O(X²Π, b⁴Σ^?), P¹⁸O(X²Π, b⁴Σ^?), P¹⁶O⁺(X¹Σ⁺), and P¹⁸O⁺(X¹Σ⁺) are computed when the rotational quantum number J equals zero (J = 0). The vibrational level G(υ), inertial rotation constant B_υ and centrifugal distortion constant D_υ are determined when J = 0. All the results of vibrational states except for P¹⁶O (X²Π) are reported for the first time. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

The kinetics of free radicals generated by IR laser photolysis. II. Reactions of C2(X 1Σ+g), C2(a 3Πu), C3(X̄ 1Σ+g) and CN(X 2Σ+) with O2

The 300 K reactions of O₂ with C₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g), C₂(a ³ Π_u), C₃(X? ¹Σ⁺_g) and CN(X ²Σ⁺), which are generated via IR multiple photon dissociation (MPD), are reported. From the spectrally resolved chemiluminescence produced via the IR MPD of C₂H₃CN in the presence of O₂, CO molecules in the a ³Σ⁺, d ³Δ_i, and e ³Σ^? states were identified, as well as CH(A ²Δ) and CN(B ²Σ⁺) radicals. Observation of time resolved chemiluminescence reveals that the electronically excited CO molecules are formed via the single-step reactions C₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g, a ³Π_u) + O₂ → CO(X ¹Σ⁺ + CO(T), where T denotes are electronically excited triplet state of CO. The rate coefficients for the removal of C₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) and C₂(a ³Π_u) by O₂ were determined both from laser induced fluorescence of C₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) and C₂(a ³Π_u), and from the time resolved chemiluminescence from excited CO molecules, and are both (3.0 ± 0.2)10^?12 cm³ molec^?1 s^?1. The rate coefficient of the reaction of C₃ with O₂, which was determined using the IR MPD of allene as the source of C₃ molecules, is <2 × 10^?14 cm³ molec^?1 s^?1. In addition, we find that rate coefficients for C₃ reactions with N₂, NO, CH₄, and C₃H₆ are all < × 10^?14 cm³ molec^?1 s^?1. Excited CH molecules are produced in a reaction which proceeds with a rate coefficient of (2.6 ± 0.2)10^?11 cm³ molec^?1 s^?1. Possible reactions which may be the source of these radicals are discussed. The reaction of CN with O₂ produces NCO in vibrationally excited states. Radiative lifetime of the ā ²Σ state of NCo and the ā ¹Π_u(000) state of C₃ are reported.     

O‐loss photodissociation of the OCS+ ion in the low‐lying electronic states studied using multiconfiguration second‐order perturbation theory

The CASPT2 potential energy curves (PECs) for O‐loss dissociation from the X²Π, A²Π, B²Σ⁺, C²Σ⁺, 1⁴Σ^?, 1²Σ^?, and 1⁴Π states of the OCS⁺ ion were calculated. The PEC calculations indicate that X²Π, 1⁴Σ^?, 1²Σ^?, and 1⁴Π correlate with CS⁺(X²Σ⁺) + O(³P_g); A²Π and B²Σ⁺ correlate with CS⁺(A²Π) + O(³P_g); and C²Σ⁺ probably correlates with CS⁺(X²Σ⁺) + O(¹D_g). The CASSCF minimum energy crossing point (MECP) calculations were performed for the C²Σ⁺/1⁴Σ^?, C²Σ⁺/1⁴Π, A²Π/1⁴Σ^?, A²Π/1²Σ^?, A²Π/1⁴Π, and B²Σ⁺/1²Σ^? state pairs and the spin‐obit couplings were calculated at the located MECPs. A conical intersection point between the B²Σ⁺ and C²Σ⁺ potential energy surfaces was found at the CASSCF level. Based on our calculations, seven O‐loss predissociation processes of the C²Σ⁺ state are suggested and an appearance potential value of 7.13 eV for the CS⁺ + O product group is predicted. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Theoretical study of the low-lying electronic states of ZnO and ZnS

Theoretical spectroscopic constants (r_e, D_e) and dipole moments (μ, ∂μ/∂r) are determined for the ¹σ⁺, ^1,3Π and ³σ⁺ states of ZnO and ZnS, using extended Gaussian basis sets and incorporating correlation using both configuration- interaction and coupled pair (CPF) methods. Relativistic corrections (Darwin plus mass velocity), included using first-order perturbation theory, are relatively small. At the CPF level, both ZnO and ZnS have ¹Σ⁺ ground states, with the ³Π state lying 209 and 2075 cm⁻¹ higher, respectively. The ³σ⁺ state lies about 1.5 eV higher in ZnO and 2.1 eV higher in ZnS. The ^1,3Π states are relatively close together since the exchange splitting is small with the σ electron localized on Zn and the π electron on oxygen (or sulfur).     

Fluorescence lifetime studies of no a 2Σ+(ν = 5, N = 9), B2Π32(ν = 8, J = 8.5), CwΠ32(ν = 1, J = 8.5), D2Σ+ (ν = 0, N = 5) and D2Σ+(ν = 1, N = 9)

Fluorescence decay profiles of NO excited levels slightly above the dissociation limit have been measured by a single-photon counting technique with nanosecond pulse excitation using an iodine flash lamp. Three iodine atomic lines in the vicinity of 180 nm are found to bring NO molecules into the levels A²Σ⁺(ν = 5, N = 9), B²²Π_{$\text{3}\text{2}$}(ν = 8, J = 8.5), C²Π_{$\text{3}\text{2}$}(ν = 1, J = 8.5), D²Σ⁺(ν = 0, N = 5) and D²Σ⁺(ν = 1, N = 9). Extrapolated zero-pressure lifetimes for single rotational levels are obtained, except for the C state where only a lifetime of ⩽0.4 ns was obtained. Self-quenching rate constants are also determined under higher-pressure conditions. Helium was found to quench the NO A²Σ⁺(ν′ = 5) fluorescence very efficiently.     

Laser-induced fluorescence in supersonic nozzle beams predissociation in the Rb2 C1πu and D 1πu states

By exciting Rb₂ in a supersonic nozzle beam with a pulsed dye laser in the C ¹Π_u-X ¹Σ⁺_g and the D ¹Π_u-X ¹Σ⁺_g band system, we find evidence tor different predissociation processes The products appear as follows from the C state, Rb^* (5 ²P_{$\text{3}\text{2}$}) exclusively, and from the D state Rb*(4²D_{$\text{3}\text{2}$}) predominantly, followcd by Rb^*(5 ²P_i-5²S) cascade radiation In addition, a lower bound of D_e(Rb₂X¹Σ⁺_g)? 3939± 10 cm^?1 is obtained.     

Formation of oxygen atoms in the reaction of chlorine atoms with ozone

Oxygen atoms are detected by NO + O + M chemiluminescence as a secondary product of the reaction between Cl and O₃. The mechanism Cl + O₃ → ClO + O₂(¹Σ⁺_g), O₂(¹Σ⁺_g) + O₃ → O₂ + O₂ + O is proposed to account for the oxygen atom formation. The branching ratio to the O₂(¹Σ⁺_g) product in the reaction of Cl with O₃ is estimated to be in the range (0.1–0.5) x 10^?2.     

Studies on the reaction N + N3 → N2(B 3Πg) + N2(X 1Σ+g)

Strongly enhanced N₂ first positive emission N₂(B ³Π_g → A ³Σ⁺_u) has been observed on addition of N atoms into a flowing mixture of Cl and HN₃. The dependence of the emission intensity on N atom concentration gave a rate constant for the reaction N + N₃ → N₂(B ³Π_g) + N₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) of _i(1.6 ± 1.1) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. That for the reaction Cl + HN₃ → HCl + N₃ is (8.9 ± 1.0) × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 from the decay of the emission. Comparison of the emission intensity in ClHN₃ with that in ClHN₃N gave the rate constant of the reaction N₃ + N₃ → N₂(B ³Π_g) + 2N₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) as 1.4 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 on the assumption that N + N₃ yields only N₂(B ³Π_g) + N₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g).     

Vibrational nonequilibrium and electronic excitation in the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen behind a shock wave

A theoretical analysis of ignition and combustion processes in a hydrogen-oxygen mixture behind a shock wave is presented (1000 K ≤ T ≤ 2500 K; 2.0 atm ≥ P ≥ 0.3 atm). The experiments performed using stoichiometric mixtures with the detection of OH (²Σ⁺) and rich mixtures with the detection of OH (²Π) were interpreted in terms of a general kinetic approach. In this case, the apparent rate constant of the chain branching reaction H + O₂ → O + OH was the only adjustable parameter. It was found that this rate constant increased with decreasing hydrogen content and exceeded equilibrium values. In this context, the mechanism of chain branching, which occurs through the formation of the vibrationally excited radical HO₂(v), and the role of secondary vibrationally nonequilibrium O₂ and O₂(¹Δ) molecules and the reaction H + O₂(¹Δ) → O + OH are discussed. New mechanisms of the formation and quenching of electronically excited OH(²Σ⁺) radicals, O(¹ D) atoms, and O₂(¹Δ) molecules are considered. The results of a nonempirical (ab initio) analysis of molecular systems and the corresponding estimations of reaction rate constants were widely used.     

Theoretical study of electronic structure of rhodium mononitride and interpretation of experimental spectra

Potential energy curves of 22 electronic states of RhN have been calculated by the complete active space second‐order perturbation theory method. The X¹Σ₀⁺ is assigned as the ground state, and the first excited state a³Π₀+ is 978 cm^?1 higher. The ¹Δ(I) and B¹Σ⁺ states are located at 9521 and 13,046 cm^?1 above the ground state, respectively. The B¹Σ⁺ state should be the excited state located 12,300 cm^?1 above the ground state in the experimental study. Moreover, two excited states, C¹Π and b³Σ⁺, are found 14,963 and 15,082 cm^?1 above the X¹Σ⁺ state, respectively. The transition C¹Π₁–X¹Σ₀⁺ may contribute to the experimentally observed bands headed at 15,071 cm^?1. There are two excited states, D¹Δ and E¹Σ⁺, situate at 20,715 and 23,145 cm^?1 above the X¹Σ⁺ state. The visible bands near 20,000 cm^?1 could be generated by the electronic transitions D¹Δ₂–a³Π₁ and E¹Σ⁺₀–X¹Σ⁺₀ because of the spin–orbit coupling effect. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

CS+(B2Σ+ → A 2Πi) fluorescence from penning excitation of CS

The energy transfer reation of He(2³S) + CS was studied spectroscopically in a flowing afterglow apparatus. The CS⁺(B²Σ⁺ → A ²Π_i) transition is identified via three members of the Δν = 0 sequence (406–415 nm). The spin-orbit splitting of the (0, 0) band of CS⁺(A ²Π_i) is 301 ± 5 cm^?1. A weak emitting system (280–340 nm) is tentatively identified as CS⁺(B²Σ⁺→ X²Σ⁺).     

Ab initio interaction and spectral properties of CO+–He

In this contribution, ab initio methods have been used to study the open-shell CO⁺–He van der Waals (vdW) complex in both the ground and the first Π excited electronic state. Calculations were performed at the UCCSD(T) level of theory in the framework of the supermolecule approach using the cc-pVTZ basis set complemented with a set of standard bond functions in the middle of the vdW bond. Calculations predict a most-stable equilibrium conformation with β e=45°, R _e =2.85 Å and D _e =275 cm^?1 for the ground CO⁺(X²Σ)–He(¹S) state and β e=90°, R _e =2.70 Å and D _e =218 cm^?1 for the excited CO ⁺(A²Π)–He(¹S) state. The dipole moment μ and independent components of the field polarizability α of the CO ⁺–He vdW complex have been studied at the calculated equilibrium geometry of these states. The vertical excitation energies from the ground CO⁺(X ²Σ)–He(¹S) to the excited CO⁺(A²Π)–He (¹S) electronic state and corresponding shifts in the fluorescent spectrum with respect to the isolated CO⁺ molecule are also presented     

Electronic transition moment of the AΠr-XΣ system of TiN

The A²Π_r-X²Σ⁺ transition of TiN was observed by the dispersed laser induced fluorescence (DLIF) spectroscopy. The relative intensities of the DLIF spectra were analyzed to determine the dependence of the electronic transition moment, R_e(r), on the internuclear distance, r, as R_e(r)∝{1−0.281(26)r} (1.380 Å≤r≤1.823 Å). This r-dependence was analyzed simultaneously with the reported values of the spin-orbit constants for A²Π_r and the hyperfine-coupling constants for X²Σ⁺ to evaluate the ionic character of the TiN bond, the 4s atomic character in the 9σ orbital of X²Σ⁺, and the 4p atomic character in the 4π orbital of A²Π_r. These characters were confirmed to be in accordance with the reported theoretical prediction. A strong r-dependence was indicated for the 3d-4p mixing in the A²Π_r state due to the configuration mixing of the Ti(3d⁴) and Ti(3d³4p) states at a large internuclear distance.     

Yields of O2(1Σg+) and O2(1Δg) in the H + O2 reaction system,and the quenching of O2(1Σg+) by atomic hydrogen

The generation of metastable O₂(¹Σg⁺) and O₂(¹Δg) in the H + O₂ system of reactions was studied by the flow discharge chemiluminescence detection method. In addition to the O₂(¹Σg⁺) and O₂(¹Δg) emissions, strong OH(v = 2) → OH(v = 0), OH(v = 3) → OH(v = 1), HO₂(²A′₀₀₀) → HO₂(²A″₀₀₀), HO₂(²A′₀₀₁) → HO₂(²A″₀₀₀), and H O₂(²A″₂₀₀) → HO₂(²A″₀₀₀) emissions were detected in the H + O₂ system. The rate constants for the quenching of O₂(¹Σg⁺) by H and H₂ were determined to be (5.1 ± 1.4) × 10^?13 and (7.1 ± 0.1) × 10^?13 cm³ s^?1, respectively. An upper limit for the branching ratio to produce O₂(¹Σg⁺) by the H + HO₂ reaction was calculated to be 2.1%. The contributions from other reactions producing singlet oxygen were investigated.     

Energy transfer processes in reactions of He(2 3S) and Ne(3P0,2) with CS2

A comparative spectroscopic study in the visible and ultraviolet ranges was conducted on the flowing afterglows resulting from the reactions of He(2 ³S) and Ne(³P_0,2) metastables with CS₂. Penning ionization was found to be the predominant energy transfer process. However, electron—ion recombination within the afterglows constitutes a major secondary process and gives rise to the most intense emitting system, CS(A ¹ Π → X ¹Σ⁺). Both afterglows were found to produce the CS⁺₂($\text{B}$²Σ⁺_u-$\text{X}$²Π_g), CS⁺₂($\text{A}$²Π_u-$\text{X}$²Π_g) and CS(a ³Π-X ¹Σ⁺) emission systems as well as some atomic sulfur emission lines. Some intensity differences were observed and are interpreted in terms of energetics and the formation mechanisms of the emitting species. A moderately strong CS⁺(A ²Π_i-X ²Σ⁺) emission system was also observed in the ehlium afterglow. In addition, a weak, sharp group of bands in the 390–420 nm range in the helium afterglow has been determined to be due to the presence of a small amount of He⁺ ions. This group of bands consists of two overlapping emission systems and are identified as CS(B ¹Σ⁺ → A ¹Π) and CS⁺(B ²Σ⁺ → A ²Π_i).     

NH(A3Π → X3Σ−) Chemiluminescence from the CH(X2 Π) + NO reaction

NH(A³Π → X³Σ^?) and OH(A²Σ⁺ → X²Π) chemiluminescences from the reaction of CH(X²Π) with NO and O₂, respectively, have been observed at room temperature. From the decay of such emissions we have measured the rate constants for these two reactions: k_NO = (2.5 ± 0.5) × 10^?10 and k_O2 = (8 ± 3) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule ^?1 s^?1, which are in agreement with previously reported rates determined by direct CH(X) detection using, laser-induced fluorescence. This indicates that a four-centered mechanism generating these excited species is operative in both reactions. The CH generation from 266 nm photolysis of CHBr₃ has also been investigated via analysis of CH* emissions.     

The dissociation energies of gaseous Br2 and I2

New rotational analyses have been made of the B³Π_0⁺u—X¹Σ⁺_g systems of ⁷⁹Br₂, ⁸¹Br₂ and ¹²⁷I₂. The density of vibrational states near the dissociation limit in the upper states follows the LeRoy—Bernstein predictions for n = 5. From short extrapolations, the ground state dissociation energies are found to be: D₀(⁷⁹Br⁸¹Br) = 15895.6 cm^?1, D₀(¹²⁷I₂) = 12440.1 cm^?1.     

Lifetimes of the vibronic Ã2A1 states of H2O+ and of the 3Πi (υ′ = 0) state of OH+

Using the delayed coincidence technique, lifetimes have been measured for some Σ and Π vibronic òA₁ states of H₂O⁺ and for the ³Π_i (υ′ = 0) state of OH⁺ by analysing the decay curves of the òA₁(0, υ′₂, 0) ? X?²B₁ (0, υ″₂, 0) and the ³Π_i(υ′ = 0) ? ³Σ^?(υ″ = 0) emission intensities respectively. The excited molecular ionic states are produced via excitation of H₂O molecules by 200 eV electrons. For H₂O⁺(òA₁) the vibronic Σ levels with υ′₂ = 13 and 15 and the vibronic Π levels with υ′₂ = 12 and 14 have been considered. The radiative lifetimes obtained for these levels have about the same value, namely 10.5(±1) × 10^?6 s. The radiative lifetime for the OH⁺(³Π_iυ′= 0) state is 2.5(±0.3) × 10^?6 s. The lifetimes found in this work for H₂O⁺(òA₁) and OH⁺(³Π_i,υ′= 0) are about ten and three times longer respectively than the corresponding lifetimes given by other investigators [1,2]. The probable reason for this discrepancy is that in the other experiments no attention has been paid to the presence of a large space charge effect. This effect is caused by the positive ions which are created by the primary electron beam.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of the valence-shell dipole excitation spectrum and absolute photoabsorption cross section of hydrogen fluoride

Absolute cross sectional measurements are reported of the valence-shell dipole excitation spectrum of HF obtained from suitably calibrated high impact energy, small momentum transfer, electron energy-loss scattering intensities. Detailed assignments are provided of all prominent features observed on the basis of concomitant single- and coupled-channel RPAE calculations. The measured spectrum, obtained at an energy resolution of = 0.06 eV (fwhm) in the = 9 to 21 eV interval, includes a dissociative feature centered at = 10.35 eV assigned as X¹Σ⁺ → (1π^?14σ)A¹Π, as well as numerous strong, sharp bands in the = 13 to 16 eV excitation energy region. These bands are attributed on basis of the present calculations to Rydberg (1π^?1npπ)-valence (3σ^?14σ) mixing in X¹Σ⁺ → ¹Σ⁺ excitation symmetry, which gives rise to a long conventional progression, and to strong 1π → nsσ, moderate 1π → ndσ, and weak 1π → npσ Rydberg series in X¹Σ⁺ → ¹Π excitation symmetry. A weaker 1π → ndπ Rydberg series also contributes to the spectrum in X¹Σ⁺ → ¹Σ⁺ symmetry. The calculated and measured excitation energies and f numbers, particularly for the X¹Σ → (1π^?14σ)A¹Π, → (1π^?13pπ)B¹Σ⁺, → (1π^?13sσ)C¹Π, and → (3σ^?14σ)D¹Σ⁺ transitions, are in good quantitative accord, suggesting that the overall nature of the HF spectrum is generally clarified on basis of the present studies. Finally, tentative assignments are provided of weak features observed above the 1π^?1 ionization threshold. As in previously reported joint experimental and theoretical studies of the valence-shell spectrum of F₂, high-resolution optical VUV measurements and calculated potential energy curves aid in the assignment and clarification of the HF spectrum.     

No fluorescence decay from low-lying electronic states excited into single vibronic levels with synchrotron radiation

Fluorescence decay of NO has been studied by single photon counting using the synchrotron radiation from the Orsay Electron Storage Ring (ACO) as a source of excitation. Emissions from A²Σ⁺(υ = 0,1,2,3), B²Π(υ = 5), C²Π(υ = 0, 1) and D²Σ⁺(υ = 0, 1, 2, 3) levels have been observed in function of NO gas pressure in the 0.02–4 torr range. Collision-free lifetimes and self-quenching rate constants have been derived from these measurements for all these levels and compared to previous data. Particular attention has been paid to the C²Π(υ = 0) level decay properties. By narrow-band (≈ 45 cm^?1) excitation inside the rotational envelope of this level we show that the decay is non-exponential with a short-living component (≈ 3 ns) a long-living one (≈ 20 ns). We develop a number of arguments in order to prove the short-living levels (J > 5 or 7) are weakly predissociated.