Theoretical spectroscopy and metastability of BeS and its cation

Multiconfiguration self-consistent field and multiconfiguration reference interaction including the Davidson’s correction techniques were employed to calculate the potential energy curves (PECs) of the BeS/BeS⁺ electronic states correlating to the 4/5 lowest dissociation limits. After nuclear motion treatment, we deduced reliable spectroscopic data for the neutral and cationic bound states. For BeS, the transition moments and spin-orbit couplings were also evaluated and used later with the PECs to deduce the rovibronic transition probabilities and the radiative lifetimes in the low-lying states, and to investigate the unimolecular decomposition processes of BeS (X¹Σ⁺, A¹Π, ³Σ⁺ and B¹Σ⁺) leading to Be(¹S_g) + S(³P_g). The prominent mechanism is a spin-orbit induced predissociation via the repulsive BeS(1³Σ⁻) state. Finally, we give the single ionization spectrum of BeS (X¹Σ⁺) populating the BeS⁺ (X²Π, 1²Σ⁻, 1²Σ⁺, 1²Δ, 2²Σ⁺, 2²Π and 3²Π) electronic states. The adiabatic ionisation energy of BeS is estimated to be ∼9.15 eV.     

Potential energy and dipole moment of the Na2+ ionic molecule

The potential energy curves of 26 electronic states of ²Σ⁺_{g, u}, ²Π_{g, u}, and ²Δ_{g, u} symmetries of the alkali dimer Na₂⁺, dissociating up to Na(4d) + Na⁺, are investigated using an ab initio approach involving a nonempirical pseudopotential for the Na⁺(1s²2s²2p⁶) core and core‐valence correlation corrections. Furthermore, the transition dipole functions between many electronic states and vibrational energy spacings are presented. The spectroscopic constants of these electronic states are extracted and compared with the available theoretical and experimental results. A very good agreement is observed, especially, for the ground and the first excited states. However, the comparison between our study and the model potential (MP) calculations (Magnier and Masnnou‐Seeuws Mol. Phys. 1996, 89, 711) for several states has shown a clear disagreement. The MP well depths of the 3‐4²Σ⁺_g, 1²Π_g, 3‐4²Π_g, and 2²Π_u electronic states are largely underestimated. In addition, the 5‐7²Σ⁺_g, 3‐7²Σ⁺_u, 2²Π_g, 4²Π_g, and 1‐2²Δ_u MP electronic states are repulsive, although in this work, they are attractive with potential well depths of some hundreds of cm^?1. The data presented in this study are very useful for studies on ion–atom interaction and cold collision in the presence of electromagnetic fields. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

On the low-lying electronic states of BiF

Relativistic CI calculations on the low-lying states of BiF(0⁺, 1, 2, 0⁺(II)) arising from the σ²π² configuration are carried out. Comparison calculations of the λ-s states without spin-orbit interaction (³Σ⁻, ¹Σ⁺ and ¹Δ) are also presented. These calculations enable the assignment of three experimentally observed low-lying states. In addition, the properties of a new state (2) are calculated (yet to be observed). The calculated dissociation energy of the ground state is 2.63 eV. The potential energy surfaces of the low-lying electronic states of BiF reveal interesting avoided crossings. Our calculations clarify the earlier assignment of the electronic transitions of BiF.     

The structure of BO2 in its ground and low-lying excited states from ab initio SCF RHF AND CI calculations

Potential curves for the X²Π_g, A²Π_u, B²Σ⁺_u and C²Σ_g⁺ electronic states of BO₂ were calculated at ab initio SCF RHF and configuration interaction (CI) level. The results obtained are consistent with a linear molecular model for all states considered. The calculated structural parameters and transition energies are in good agreement with relevant experimental data.     

Case studies in multiphoton ionisation and dissociation of Na2

Dissociative ionisation of Na₂ via the 3s 3d ¹Σ _g and¹Π _g states has been studied in the near threshold energy regime up to 120 meV above the three particle (Na⁺ + Na(3s) +e ^?) break up limit. A pulsed, cold molecular beam, pulsed laser 2 colour 3 photon resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionisation, and kinetic energy analysis of the fragments by a time of flight method (KETOF) is used. As series of vibrational levels in the two intermediate 3s 3d Rydberg states are excited, slow Na⁺ fragments are observed with a maximum kinetic energy given by the excess energy of the 2 + 1 photon process above threshold, thus confirming a direct dissociative ionisation process. The intensity distribution of the Na⁺ fragments shows a very pronounced maximum at zero kinetic energy, its shape differing somewhat for the¹Σ _g and¹Π _g intermediate states. Also observed is a strong signal of fast fragments arising from a typical 4 photon process which leads to dissociation of Na ₂ ⁺ molecules in their electronic ground state.     

Geometric and electronic structure of ground and excited states of groupVA diatomics. A theoretical LCGTO-MP-LSD study

LCGTO-MP-LSD calculation was performed for the ground and several low-lying excited states of homo- (N₂, P₂, As₂, and Sb₂) and hetero-nuclear (PN, AsN, AsP, AsSb, SbN, and SbP) groupVA diatomics. For all the systems the ground state is found to be¹Σ⁺. For N₂ and P₂, the¹Σ _g ⁺ ground state is followed by the³Σ _u ⁺ ,³Π _g ,³Δ _u ,¹Π _g , and¹Δ _u low-lying exited states while for As₂ the order is found to be³Σ _u ⁺ ,³Δ _u ,³Π _g ,¹Δ _u ,¹Π _g . Finally for Sb₂ the relative stability of excited states is³Σ _u ⁺ ,³Δ _u ,¹Δ _u ,³Π _g ,¹Π _g . For the hetero-nuclear diatomics the¹Σ⁺ ground state is, in the case of PN, AsN, AsP, SbN, and SbP, followed by the³Σ⁺,³Δ,³Π,¹Π and¹Δ low-lying excited states while for the AsSb diatomic an inversion of stability of the two last singlets occurs. The calculated spectroscopic parameters (Re, ωe, andDe) are in good agreement with all the available experimental results while, theTe values are overestimated by about 0.5 eV. Mulliken population analysis shows that both homo- and hetero-nuclear groupVA diatomics are essentially triple bonded systems.     

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.     

Theoretical study of LiK and LiK+ in adiabatic representation

The potential energy curves have been calculated for the electronic states of the molecule LiK within the range 3 to 300 a.u., of the internuclear distance R. Using an ab initio method, through a semiempirical spin-orbit pseudo-potential for the Li (1s ²) and K (1s ²2s ²2p ⁶3s ²3p ⁶) cores and core valence correlation correction added to the electrostatic Hamiltonian with Gaussian basis sets for both atoms. The core valence effects including core-polarization and core-valence correlation are taken into account by using an l-dependent core-polarization potential. The molecular orbitals have been derived from self-consistent field (SCF) calculation. The spectroscopic constants, dipole moments and vibrational levels of the lowest electronic states of the LiK molecule dissociating into K (4s, 4p, 5s, 3d, and 5p) + Li (2s, 2p, 3s, and 3p) in ^{1, 3}Σ, ^{1, 3}Π, and ^{1, 3}Δ symmetries. Adiabatic results are also reported for ²Σ, ²Π, and ²Δ electronic states of the molecular ion LiK⁺ dissociating into Li (2s, 2p, 3s, and 3p) + K⁺ and Li⁺ + K (4s, 4p, 5s, 3d, and 5p). The comparison of the present results with those available in the literature shows a very good agreement in spectroscopic constants of some lowest states of the LiK and LiK⁺ molecules, especially with the available theoretical works. The existence of numerous avoided crossing between electronic states of ²Σ and ²Π symmetries is related to the charge transfer process between the two ionic systems Li⁺K and LiK⁺.     

A theoretical study of spectroscopy and metastability of the CN dication

Potential energy curves of low-lying electronic states of the CN²⁺ dication and of the electronic ground states of CN⁺ and the neutral CN molecule were calculated using internally contracted multireference CI and the coupled cluster RCCSD(T) methods. Spectroscopic constants and adiabatic excitation energies of 13 quasibound electronic states of the dication were obtained and the energy of charge stripping of CN⁺ and double ionization energy of CN were predicted. Tunneling and spin-orbit induced predissociation lifetimes for the vibrational levels in the low-lying electronic states are presented and the metastability of the dication is discussed.     

Theoretical study of low‐lying electronic states of the LiRb+ molecular ion: Structure,spectroscopy and transition dipole moments

The electronic structure and the spectroscopic properties for low‐lying electronic states of the LiRb⁺ molecular ion, dissociating into Li (2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 3d, 4s, and 4p) + Rb⁺ and Li⁺ + Rb (5s, 5p, 4d, 6s, 6p, 5d, and 7s), have been investigated using an ab initio approach based on non‐empirical pseudo potentials for the Li and Rb cores and parametrized l‐dependent polarization potential. We have determined the adiabatic potential energy curves and their spectroscopic constants for many electronic states of ²Σ⁺, ²Π, and ²Δ symmetries. A satisfying agreement, for the spectroscopic constants, has been obtained for the ground and the first excited states with the available theoretical works. Potential energy curves were presented, for the first time, for the higher excited states. In addition, we have localised and analysed the avoided crossings between electronic states of ²Σ⁺ and ²Π symmetries. Their existences can be related to the interaction between the potential energy curves and to the charge transfer process between the two ionic systems Li⁺Rb and LiRb⁺. Moreover, we have determined the transition dipole moments from X²Σ⁺ and 2²Σ⁺ states to higher excited states of ²Σ⁺ and ²Π symmetries. For our best knowledge, no experimental data on the LiRb⁺ molecular ion is available. These theoretical data can help experimentalists to optimize photoassociative formation of ultracold LiRb⁺ molecular ion and their longevity in a trap or in an optical lattice. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Theoretical study of spectroscopic and molecular properties of several low‐lying electronic states of CO molecule

The potential energy curves (PECs) of eight low‐lying electronic states (X¹Σ⁺, a³Π, a′³Σ⁺, d³Δ, e³Σ^?, A¹Π, I¹Σ^?, and D¹Δ) of the carbon monoxide molecule have been studied by an ab initio quantum chemical method. The calculations have been performed using the complete active space self‐consistent field method, which is followed by the valence internally contracted multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) approach in combination with the correlation‐consistent aug‐cc‐pV5Z basis set. The effects on the PECs by the core‐valence correlation and relativistic corrections are included. The way to consider the relativistic corrections is to use the third‐order Douglas–Kroll Hamiltonian approximation at the level of a cc‐pV5Z basis set. Core‐valence correlation corrections are performed using the cc‐pCVQZ basis set. To obtain more reliable results, the PECs determined by the MRCI calculations are corrected for size‐extensivity errors by means of the Davidson modification (MRCI+Q). The spectroscopic parameters (D_e, T_e, R_e, ω_e, ω_ex_e, ω_ey_e, B_e, α_e, and γ_e) of these electronic states are calculated using these PECs. The spectroscopic parameters are compared with those reported in the literature. Using the Breit–Pauli operator, the spin–orbit coupling effect on the spectroscopic parameters is discussed for the a³Π electronic state. With the PECs obtained by the MRCI+Q/aug‐cc‐pV5Z+CV+DK calculations, the complete vibrational states of each electronic state have been determined. The vibrational manifolds have been calculated for each vibrational state of each electronic state. The vibrational level G(ν), inertial rotation constant B_ν, and centrifugal distortion constant D_ν of the first 20 vibrational states when the rotational quantum number J equals zero are reported and compared with the experimental data. Comparison with the measurements demonstrates that the present spectroscopic parameters and molecular constants determined by the MRCI+Q/aug‐cc‐pV5Z+CV+DK calculations are both reliable and accurate. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

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.     

Rotational analysis of the a3Π0+,1-X1Σ+ emission systems of GeH+

New emission systems have been observed from the helium afterglow reaction of GeH₄ in the 520–610 nm region. On the basis of the rotational analysis, they were assigned to the a ³Π_0⁺-X¹Σ⁺ and a³Π₁-X¹Σ⁺ subsystems of GeH⁺. Spectroscopic constants have been determined for the GeH⁺ (a³Π_0⁺, a³Π₁, X¹Σ⁺) states.     

CAS SCF Cl calculations for the 3Σ−g, 1Σ+g, 3Σ+u, and 5Δu states of Sc2

CAS SCF CI (SD) calculations have been carried out for the ³Σ^?_g, ¹Σ⁺_g, ³Σ⁺_u, and ⁵Δ_u states of Sc₂ using large gaussian basis sets. The ³Σ^?_g, ¹Σ⁺_g, and ³Σ⁺_u states arise from the ²D(4s² 3d¹) + ²D(4s² 3d¹) limit of Sc₂ and are found to be only weakly bound (D_c ≈ 0.06 eV and R_c ≈ 8.0a₀). The ⁵Δ_u state arises from the ²D(4s² 3d¹) + ⁴F(4s¹ 3d¹ 4p¹) atomic limit. This state is found to be strongly bound relative to its limits (D_c ≈ 0.8 eV and R_c ≈ 7.0a₀).     

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     

Spectroscopic properties and potential energy curves of some low-lying electronic states of AlO,AlO+, LaO,and LaO+: An ab initio CASSCF study

Results of CASSCF state-averaged calculations on the lowest electronic states of LaO and LaO⁺ are reported in this work. For comparison, some low-lying electronic states of AlO and AlO⁺ are also reported. The ground state of LaO was found to be the X²Σ⁺ (R_e = 1.987 Å, ω_e = 794 cm^?1) with a low-lying A²Δ excited state. Five more excited states below 26000 cm^?1 were found. The first ionization potential (IP ) is found at 5.16 eV, resulting in an X¹Σ⁺ ground state for the LaO⁺ diatom, in opposition to AlO⁺ for which an X³ Π ground state has been found. Analysis of the wave functions, dipole moments, and Mulliken populations reveal that the bonding is quite ionic in both systems. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Die Photoelektron-Spektren der Monohalogenacetylene

The photoelectron spectra of the four monohaloacetylenes X? C?C? H with X ? F, Cl, Br, I have been recorded. The first four bands of these spectra are assigned (in order of increasing ionization potentials) to the following states: band 1: ²Π_3/2(1), ²Π_1/2(1); band 2: ²Π_3/2(2), ²Π_1/2(2); band 3: ²Σ⁺(3); band 4: ²Σ⁺(4). A correlation diagram based on a simple ZDO-MO model shows that the observed band positions and the size of the splits due to spin-orbit coupling can be satisfactorily explained in terms of such a model. It is found that the orbital energies A_X of the postulated halogen n p λ(X)-basis orbitals are a linear function of the ionization potentials I(X) of the free atoms X. The validity of the ZDO-MO-model is confirmed by the excellent qualitative agreement between the observed and predicted spacings of the vibrational fine structure of the π-bands.     

Multiphoton excitation of CS2 with a narrow-band KrF laser

Multiphoton excitation of CS₂ by means of a frequency-narrowed tunable KrF laser (248 nm) leads to ionisation and photofragment fluorescence from CS(A ¹Π) and CS(d³Δ). Emission spectra can be obtained without any interference from the strong laser-induced flourescence from CS(X¹Σ⁺) observed in previous work with broad-band KrF laser. Excitation and fragmentation mechanisms are discussed within the context of higher Rydberg states of CS₂.     

High-resolution UV photoelectron spectroscopy of diatomic halogens

Diatomic halogens are studied with UV photoelectron spectroscopy using new techniques to preserve high resolution even for reactive species. For the first time vibrational structure is observed on the ²Π_u,i (i = ^1/2,^3/2) states (F₂⁺, Cl₂⁺), the ²Σ_g⁺ states (F₂⁺, Cl₂⁺) and the Br₂⁺ (²Π_{u,$\text{3}\text{2}$}) state. On the ²Π_u,i states (F₂⁺, Cl₂⁺, Br₂⁺) spin-orbit splitting is resolved. Indications for a small potential barrier on the F₂⁺ (²Π_u,i) state for large internuclear distances are found. A new value for the spin-orbit splitting of the Cl₂⁺(²Π_g) state is presented (= ?725 cm^?1). The complementary nature of optical emission and photoelectron spectroscopy for small ions is demonstrated leading to a more complete picture of the F₂⁺ (²Π_u,i) and Cl₂⁺ (²Π_u,i) ionic states.     

High Resolution Laser Excitation Spectra and Franck-Condon Factors of A2Π-X2Σ+ Electronic Transition of MgF

Magnesium monofluoride (MgF) is proposed as an ideal candidate radical for direct laser cooling. Here, the rotationally resolved laser spectra of MgF for the A²Π-X²Σ⁺ electronic transition system were recorded by using laser induced fluorescence technique. The MgF radicals were produced by discharging SF₆/Ar gas mixtures between the tips of two magnesium needles in a supersonic jet expansion. We recorded a total of 19 vibrational bands belonging to three sequences of Δv=0, ±1 in the region of 348-370 nm. Accurate spectroscopic constants for both X²Σ⁺ and A²Π states are determined from rotational analysis of the experimental spectra. Spectroscopic parameters, including the Franck-Condon factors (FCFs), are determined from the experimental results and the Rydberg-Klein-Rees (RKR) calculations. Significant discrepancies between the experimentally measured and RKR-calculated FCFs are found, indicating that the FCFs are nearly independent of the spin-orbit coupling in the A²Π state. Potential energy curves (PECs) and FCFs determined here provide necessary data for the theoretical simulation of the laser-cooling scheme of MgF.