The large-amplitude motions in quasi-symmetric top molecules with internal C3v rotors: The vibration-torsion-rotation Hamiltonian of a two-top molecule

An expression for the vibration-torsion-rotation Hamiltonian of a molecule with triatomic nonrigid frame and two internal C_3v rotors has been derived. Three large-amplitude motions, namely skeletal bending and two torsions, are removed from the vibrational problem and are considered together with the rotational problem. The Hamiltonian obtained is applicable to any two-C_3v-top molecule with triatomic linear or bent frame. The zeroth-order skeletal bending-torsion-rotation Hamiltonian is derived and the method of solving the corresponding Schrödinger equation is discussed. The Hamiltonian obtained with only slight modifications is shown to be applicable to any single-C_3v-top molecule with a quasi-linear tetratomic nonrigid frame or to the problem of the large-amplitude bending motion in a pentatomic quasi-linear molecule.     

The vibration-rotation problem in triatomic molecules allowing for two large-amplitude stretching vibrations

An expression for the Hamiltonian of a vibration-rotating triatomic molecule is derived, using two curvilinear stretching coordinates ?₁ and ?₃ and one rectilinear bending coordinate S₂, in such a way that the Hamiltonian obtained is applicable to any bent triatomic molecule and allows for large displacements along the stretching coordinates. From this, a zeroth-order Hamiltonian H_s⁰ (?₁, ?₃) is obtained, describing the energy levels associated with the two stretching vibrations ν₁ and ν₃. The vibrational energy levels (v₁, v₃^even) of an XY₂ molecule having unequal bond lengths at equilibrium are then calculated. The kinetic energy T₀ (?₁, ?₃) of the Hamiltonian effectively takes into account the two large-amplitude motions in ν₁ and ν₃ together with their interaction. A model calculation is described for a bent XY₂ molecule (SO₂ in its ¹A′ (¹B₂) excited state) in which the ν₃ oscillation occurs in a double-minimum potential. Coupling by kinetic energy terms in the Hamiltonian turns out to be very small in this example.     

Vibration-rotation interaction in HCNO caused by accidental resonances and enhanced by the quasilinearity of the molecule

The recent assignment of the vibrational spectrum of the quasilinear molecule HCNO revealed several near coincidences between vibrational energy levels involving the two bending modes, ν₄ (skeletal bending mode) and ν₅ (HCN-bending mode), and the lowest-lying stretching mode, ν₃ (NO stretching mode). By considering the correlation between the energy levels of a linear and a bent molecular model of HCNO, it is seen that resonance interactions which would be of third or higher order in a linear molecule Hamiltonian would be of first or second order in the Hamiltonian of a bent molecule, and thus might be significant in the quasilinear molecule HCNO. In this way we were able to identify the type of observed interaction occurring between three pairs of nearly coincident levels, (00010, 00002), (00020, 00012), and (00100, 00004). Anomalous centrifugal distortion effects had been observed and reported earlier for the pure rotational transitions arising from molecules in the 00010, 00020, and 00002 levels. Rotational transitions arising from molecules in the 00004 and 00100 vibrational states of HCNO and the 00100 state of DCNO are reported here for the first time. For two pairs of levels, (00010, 00002) and (00100, 00004), we could determine the magnitude of the coefficients of the interaction matrix elements from an analysis of the centrifugal distortion effects.     

The effect of the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation on the rotation-vibration Hamiltonian of a triatomic molecule

The rotation-vibration-electronic Hamiltonian of a triatomic molecule has been derived in a manner similar to that used by J. T. Hougen, P. R. Bunker, and J. W. C. Johns [J. Mol. Spectrosc.34, 136 (1970)] in deriving the rotation-vibration Hamiltonian. An effective rotation-vibration Hamiltonian for the ground electronic state has been obtained from this, by using the perturbation technique of P. R. Bunker and R. E. Moss [Mol. Phys.33, 417 (1977)], in order to account for the effect of the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation to second order. The same form of effective rotation-vibration Hamiltonian, in which the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation is allowed for, will be obtained for any molecule. This Hamiltonian contains effective moments of inertia (these involve rotation g-factor corrections) and effective nuclear masses (likely to be close to the atomic masses). Following the procedure of A. R. Hoy and P. R. Bunker [J. Mol. Spectrosc.74, 1 (1979)] the effective rotation-bending Hamiltonian is derived from the effective rotation-vibration Hamiltonian, and this could be used to fit the rotation-bending energy levels.     

A precise solution of the rotation bending Schrödinger equation for a triatomic molecule with application to the water molecule

In this paper we report the results of improving the non-rigid bender formulation of the rotation-vibration Hamiltonian of a triatomic molecule [see A. R. Hoy and P. R. Bunker, J. Mol. Spectrosc., 52, 439 (1974)]. This improved Hamiltonian can be diagonalized as before by a combination of numerical integration and matrix diagonalization and it yields rotation-bending energies to high values of the rotational quantum numbers. We have calculated all the rotational energy levels up to J = 10 for the (v₁, v₂, v₃) states (0, 0, 0) and (0, 1, 0) for both H₂O and D₂O. By least squares fitting to the observations varying seven parameters we have refined the equilibrium structure and force field of the water molecule and have obtained a fit to the 375 experimental energies used with a root mean square deviation of 0.05 cm^?1. The equilibrium bond angle and bond length are determined to be 104.48° and 0.9578 Å respectively. We have also calculated these energy levels using the ab initio equilibrium geometry and force constants of Rosenberg, Ermler and Shavitt [J. Chem. Phys., 65, 4072 (1976)] and this is then the first complete ab initio calculation of rotation-vibration energy levels of high J in a polyatomic molecule to this precision. the rms fit of these ab initio energies to the experimental energies for the H₂O molecule is 2.65 cm^?1.     

Correlation between energy levels of linear and bent X2Y2 molecules

The permutation-inversion group developed by Longuet-Higgins is extended to a classification of the vibronic, torsional, and rotational wavefunctions of a nonrigid X₂Y₂ molecule by introducing a symmetry operation $\text{T}\text{?}$, which rotates the top half of the molecule by 2π and, accordingly, the molecule-fixed x axis by π. Since the energy levels of linear (D_∞h) and bent (C_2h, C_2h, and C₂) forms of X₂Y₂ are classified according to a set of common symmetry operations of this extended permutation-inversion group, their energy levels can be correlated, including those of nonrigid forms such as a quasilinear system or a free internal rotor. Nuclear spin weights and selection rules are derived.     

The application of the nonrigid bender Hamiltonian to a quasilinear molecule

The form of the nonrigid bender has changes that here we do render. We add, nicely paired, a term to J² and regroup factors that are singular. As a result, the nonrigid bender Hamiltonian can now be set up using only Van Vleck perturbation theory, for any triatomic molecule (linear, quasi-linear, or bent). It can be used to calculate the rotation-vibration energies of the molecule to high $\text{J(?10)}$ from the bending potential energy function and the stretch and stretch-bend force constants.     

The effective Hamiltonian for the Renner-Teller effect

A derivation of the effective vibronic Hamiltonian for a linear triatomic molecule in a Π electronic state within the harmonic approximation is presented. In addition to the well-established vibrational and Renner-Teller coupling terms, there is a small term which has been overlooked before. The form of this term is derived and the parameter involved, g_K, is related to other observable quantities. Several experimental examples are presented which demonstrate that the extra term is needed to reproduce the vibronic levels in Π electronic states, the contribution being of the order of a few cm^?1.     

Accurate First-Principle Equation of State for the One-Component Plasma

Accurate “first-principle” expressions for the excess free energy F_ex and internal energy of U_ex of the classical one-component plasma (OCP) are obtained. We use the Hubbard-Schofield transformation that maps the OCP Hamiltonian onto the Ising-like Hamiltonian, with coefficients expressed in terms of equilibrium correlation functions of a reference system. We use the ideal gas as a reference system for which all the correlation functions are known. Explicit calculations are performed with the high-order terms in the Ising-like Hamiltonian omitted. For small values of the plasma parameter Γ the Debye-Huckel result for F_ex and U_ex is recovered. For Γ ? 1, these depend linearly on Γ in accordance with the Monte Carlo findings for the OCP. The MC data for the internal energy are reproduced fairly well by the expression for U_ex obtained.     

Rotation-vibration energy levels of H2O and C3 calculated using the nonrigid bender Hamiltonian

We have written a new computer program for diagonalizing the nonrigid bender Hamiltonian, and have based the program entirely on the theory as reviewed by P. Jensen [Comp. Phys. Rep. 1, 1–56 (1983)] and P. Jensen and P. R. Bunker [J. Mol. Spectrosc. 118, 18–39 (1986)]. Using this program we can calculate the rotation-vibration energy levels of a triatomic molecule from the potential energy function. The program is an improvement over an earlier version, particularly in the systematic treatment of all singular terms, and in the allowance made for the dependence of all perturbation energy denominators on the bending quantum number v₂ and rotation quantum number K. The new program can be used for symmetric and unsymmetric triatomic molecules. In the present paper we test the program by applying it to the calculation of the rotation-vibration energy levels of C₃ from an ab initio potential surface, and of H₂O from ab initio and experimental potential surfaces.     

Stability competition between the layered and compact Cu16 clusters

In a recent study [P.H. Acioli, N. Ratanavade, M.R. Cline, S. Srinivas, Lect. Notes Comput. Sci. 5545, 203 (2009)] of the interaction of small silver clusters (Ag _n , n = 1?C4) with carbon monoxide we have found that the CO molecule can bond with the cluster either in a bent or in a linear configuration with respect to the silver carbon bond. These trends were explained by the interaction of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the cluster and the antibonding (?? ^?) orbital, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of CO. For a ??-type orbital of the cluster the CO molecule is bent with respect to the Ag-C bond, while for a ??-type HOMO the CO molecule is aligned with respect to the Ag-C bond. These trends tend to maximize the overlap of the CO molecule??s LUMO with the cluster??s HOMO. Furthermore, the CO molecules have a tendency to bond atop an atom rather than on bridge or face sites. In the present work we extend the investigation to clusters of up to seven atoms. The focus of this paper is on the 7-atom silver cluster which shows interesting complexities in that the cluster is characterized by a ??-like HOMO but has the CO bonded to a waist atom of the pentagonal bi-pyramid and bent with respect to the Ag-C bond, thus breaking the previously observed trend. In this work we provide an analysis of the potential energy surface of the CO bonded to Ag₇ and explain why the bonding differs from those of the smaller clusters. We find that the bonding is still explained by a ??-backdonation process. However, unlike the lowest size clusters there is an increase in overlap through bending and the complex prefers this conformation, rather than a linear Ag-C-O configuration.     

Centrifugal distortion in weakly bound linear triatomic molecules

A simple formula is derived for the centrifugal distortion constant of a linear triatomic molecule in which one of the chemical bonds is much weaker than the other. The derivation is in complete analogy with the standard semiclassical diatomic derivation and results in the equation $\text{D}{}_{\mathrm{J}}\text{= [}\text{4B}{}_{\mathrm{e}}{}^3\text{(hv)}{}^2\text{][1 ? (}\text{B}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\text{b}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\text{)]}$, where B_e, ν, and b_e are, respectively, the triatomic rotational constant, the low stretching frequency, and the rotational constant of the strongly bound diatomic part of the triatomic molecule.     

Orbital angular momentum in triatomic molecules

The effects of electronic angular momentum in triatomic linear molecules are considered. An effective vibronic hamiltonian is derived and second order energy level expressions are obtained for the bending levels in an electronic Π state. The formulae allow for the anharmonicity of the bending potentials and for the variation of the expectation value <L_z > with bond angle; effects of electron spins are also included. The vibronic levels predicted by the analytic expressions are compared with those calculated using a full matrix treatment of the orbital angular momentum; it is shown that they are far more accurate than the levels predicted by the formulae currently available in the literature. The relationship between the anharmonic corrections and the deviation of <L_z > from unity is discussed in terms of an electrostatic interaction between linear molecule states of different symmetry.     

The microwave spectrum of methyl isothiocyanate

New measurements of microwave transitions of CH₃NCS in the region 14–40 GHz are reported. Assignments of several sets of lines in terms of the transitions expected for a pseudosymmetric-top molecule are suggested and a tentative extension of the analysis to cover all the k = 0 lines in our spectra and in the region 5–11 GHz is proposed. Preliminary calculations using a two-dimensional anharmonic oscillator model lead to a bending potential with a central hump of some 160 cm^?1, and a minimum-energy configuration at a CNC bond angle of about 147°. A correlation between rovibrational energy levels of a two-dimensional anharmonic oscillator and those of an asymmetric-top molecule with a bent skeleton and freely rotating methyl group is proposed.     

Analysis of the microwave spectrum of hydrazine

Microwave measurements in the interval from 6 to 133 GHz, consisting of 444 rotational transitions in the vibrational ground state of hydrazine with J ≤ 31 and K_a ≤ 6 were fit to an effective rotational Hamiltonian containing 9 asymmetric rotor constants, 14 NH₂ inversion parameters, and 1 internal rotation parameter, with an overall standard deviation of the fit of 0.40 MHz. This set of parameters contains: (i) the three rotational constants; (ii) tunneling splitting constants for NH₂ inversion at one end of the molecule, for NH₂ inversion at both ends of the molecule, and for internal rotation through the trans barrier; (iii) two K-type doubling constants affecting the K = 1 levels; (iv) an a-type Coriolis interaction with matrix elements linear in K; and (v) various centrifugal distortion corrections to the above parameters. A consistent group theoretical formalism was used to label the energy levels and to select terms in the phenomenological rotational Hamiltonian. The Hamiltonian matrix, which is set up in a tunneling basis set, is of dimension 16×16 and contains only ΔK_a = 0 matrix elements, asymmetric rotor effects being taken into account on the diagonal by terms from a Polo expansion in bⁿ. Hyperfine splittings and barrier heights are not discussed.     

Quantum-dynamical study of the translational-vibrational energy transfer in the collinear collisions of atoms with triatomic molecules

A quantum-dynamical method is described for investigating the translational-vibrational energy transfer that occurs in the collinear collision of an atom with a linear triatomic molecule. The technique is applied to the computation of vibrational transition probabilities for the collinear collisions of helium atoms with CO₂, OCS and HCN over a range of energies. Realistic potentials are used for the triatomic molecules while simple exponential or Morse potentials are used to describe the helium-molecule interaction. The effects of varying the atomic masses and the potential function parameters are examined. It is found, that the symmetric stretch vibrational modes of CO₂, OCS and HCN are preferentially excited (or relaxed), by collision with the atom, over the asymmetric stretch modes.     

HYDROELASTIC COUPLED VIBRATIONS IN A CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER WITH A MEMBRANE BOTTOM, CONTAINING LIQUID WITH SURFACE TENSION

A linear free hydroelastic vibration analysis of a frictionless liquid with a free surface contained in a cylindrical tank with a flexible bottom has been performed. The side-wall has been treated as rigid and the effect of surface tension taken into consideration. The container bottom was treated as a membrane, while for the free liquid surface the effect of two contact line conditions has been investigated. One edge condition was that of a slipping contact line, while the other one treated the contact line as fixed, ie., an anchored edge. The vibration characteristics of a membrane-liquid coupled system have been investigated for various system parameters, i.e., membrane tension parameter T, liquid surface tension parameter σ, material density parameter ρ, liquid height ratio ?₀ and vibration mode numbers m and n. The degree of coupling between a membrane and a liquid was represented with vibration mode diagrams as well as with frequency diagrams. For axisymmetric coupled vibrations with anchored edge condition, vibration mode exchanging of both a membrane and liquid free surface with membrane bottom tension parameter T has been investigated. An interesting phenomenon which is only observed for a flexible bottom container and an anchored edge free surface condition is presented.     

Adsorption and reaction of CO2 and CO2/O CO-adsorption on Ni(110): Angle resolved photoemission (ARUPS) and electron energy loss (HREELS) studies

Molecular adsorption is observed on a Ni(110) surface at 80 K. The relative binding energies of the valence ion states as determined by ARUPS are consistent with those in the gas as well as in the condensed phase, and indicate that the electronic structure of the adsorbed molecule is only slightly distorted upon adsorption at this temperature. The adsorbate spectra show E versus k_∥ dispersions indicating some long-range order in the adsorbate. The variations in relative ionisation probabilities of the ion states as a function of electron emission angle suggest that the molecular axis is oriented parallel to the surface within ± 20°. Upon heating the adsorbate to above 100 K. (i.e. 140 K) the spectrum changes. A new species causing an increase in work function by 1 eV can be identified. Comparison with calculations suggests that it is an anionic bent CO; molecule. Electron energy loss studies on this intermediate species support the proposed bent CO₂ geometry and favour a coordination site with C_2v symmetry. The bent CO₂ moiety is stable up to 230 K. Further heating to room temperature leads to dissociation of the bent CO₂ molecule into adsorbed CO and O. The CO molecule is oriented with its axis perpendicular to the surface. The bent CO₂ species appears to be a precursor to dissociation. Results on CO₂ adsorption on an oxygen precovered surface show that CO₂ interacts with oxygen at 85 K. Upon heating the co-adsorbate to near room temperature a reaction product is formed the nature of which cannot yet be clearly identified.     

In search of the Griffiths shield region

The van der Waals equation of state for binary mixtures has been used to determine the location and shape of the Griffiths shield region (where three tricritical lines intersect). If one takes the geometric mean fora ₁₂, the arithmetic mean forb ₁₂, and the configurational free energy as ideal, the center of the Griffiths shield region is found only when the ratio of molecular sizes is infinite. When the Flory equation for the configurational free energy for mixtures of chain molecules is substituted for the ideal form, the results appear to be somewhat different. However, for all the cases studied, with systems which approach geometric mean behavior one finds the shield region only when the ratio of molecular size is very large and when the internal pressure of the small molecule is very much greater than that of the long-chain molecule.This paper is dedicated to our colleague Howard Reiss on the occasion of his 66th birthday.     

Vibration-internal rotation-rotation Hamiltonian of an asymmetric top molecule with C3v internal rotor

An expression for the kinetic energy part of the vibration-torsion-rotation Hamiltonian of an asymmetric top molecule containing a C_3v internal rotor has been derived. The terms for various interactions in the molecule, viz. Coriolis interaction between rotation (both overall and internal rotation) and vibration, centrifugal distortion and anharmonicity of molecular vibrations induced by the internal, and overall rotation of the molecule, have been formulated. For a planar molecule with C_s symmetry we have obtained the vibrationally averaged rotation-internal rotation Hamiltonian. Diagonalization of this Hamiltonian for a particular vibrational state will yield the rotation-internal rotation energy levels and hence the transition frequencies. These data will be useful for analysis of high-resolution infrared spectra obtained by laser or Fourier transform spectroscopy of nonrigid molecules with internal rotor. We also present a set of quartic centrifugal distortion coefficients associated with rotation and internal rotation. These data will be helpful for evaluation of vibrational potential constants of the orthorhombic asymmetric top molecules.