Ab initio study of the low lying electronic states of ZnF and ZnF-

Highly correlated ab initio calculations have been performed for an accurate determination of the electronic structure and of the spectroscopy of the low lying electronic states of the ZnF system. Using effective core pseudopotentials and aug-cc-pVQZ basis sets for both atoms, the potential curves, the dipole moment functions, and the transition dipole moments between relevant electronic states have been calculated at the multireference-configuration-interaction level. The spectroscopic constants calculated for the X(2)Sigma(+) ground state are in good agreement with the most recent theoretical and experimental values. It is shown that, besides the X(2)Sigma(+) ground state, the B(2)Sigma(+), the C(2)Pi, and the D(2)Sigma(+) states are bound. The A(2)Pi state, which has been mentioned in previous works, is not bound but its potential presents a shoulder in the Franck-Condon region of the X(2)Sigma(+) ground state. All of the low lying quartet states are found to be repulsive. The absorption transitions from the v=0 level of the X(2)Sigma(+) ground state toward the three bound states have been evaluated and the spectra are presented. The potential energy of the ZnF(-) molecular anion has been determined in the vicinity of its equilibrium geometry and the electronic affinity of ZnF (EA=1.843 eV with the zero energy point correction) has been calculated in agreement with the photoelectron spectroscopy experiments.     

Measurement of the electronic transition dipole moment by Autler-Townes splitting: Comparison of three- and four-level excitation schemes for the Na2 A 1Sigma(u)+ - X 1Sigma(g)+ system

We present a fundamentally new approach for measuring the transition dipole moment of molecular transitions, which combines the benefits of quantum interference effects, such as the Autler-Townes splitting, with the familiar R-centroid approximation. This method is superior to other experimental methods for determining the absolute value of the R-dependent electronic transition dipole moment function mu(e)(R), since it requires only an accurate measurement of the coupling laser electric field amplitude and the determination of the Rabi frequency from an Autler-Townes split fluorescence spectral line. We illustrate this method by measuring the transition dipole moment matrix element for the Na2 A 1Sigma(u)+ (v' = 25, J' = 20e)-X 1Sigma(g)+ (v" = 38, J" = 21e) rovibronic transition and compare our experimental results with our ab initio calculations. We have compared the three-level (cascade) and four-level (extended Lambda) excitation schemes and found that the latter is preferable in this case for two reasons. First, this excitation scheme takes advantage of the fact that the coupling field lower level is outside the thermal population range. As a result vibrational levels with larger wave function amplitudes at the outer turning point of vibration lead to larger transition dipole moment matrix elements and Rabi frequencies than those accessible from the equilibrium internuclear distance of the thermal population distribution. Second, the coupling laser can be "tuned" to different rovibronic transitions in order to determine the internuclear distance dependence of the electronic transition dipole moment function in the region of the R-centroid of each coupling laser transition. Thus the internuclear distance dependence of the transition moment function mu(e)(R) can be determined at several very different values of the R centroid. The measured transition dipole moment matrix element for the Na2 A 1Sigma(u)+ (v' = 25, J' = 20e)-X 1Sigma(g)+ (v" = 38, J" = 21e) transition is 5.5+/-0.2 D compared to our ab initio value of 5.9 D. By using the R-centroid approximation for this transition the corresponding experimental electronic transition dipole moment is 9.72 D at Rc = 4.81 A, in good agreement with our ab initio value of 10.55 D.     

Line strengths and transition dipole moment of the nu2 fundamental band of the methyl radical

The line strengths of nine Q-branch lines in the nu(2) fundamental band of the methyl radical in its ground electronic state have been measured by diode laser absorption spectroscopy. The vibration-rotation spectrum of methyl was recorded in a microwave discharge in ditertiary butyl peroxide heavily diluted in argon. The absolute concentration of the radical was determined by measuring its kinetic decay when the discharge was extinguished. The translational, rotational, and vibrational temperatures, also required to relate the line strengths to the transition dipole moment, were determined from relative integrated line intensities and from the Doppler widths of the lines after allowing for instrumental factors. The line strengths of the nine Q-branch lines were used to derive a more accurate value of the transition dipole moment of this band, mu(2)=0.215(25) D. Improved accuracy over earlier measurements of mu(2) (derived from line strengths of single lines) was obtained by integrating over the complete line profile instead of measuring the peak absorption and assuming a Doppler linewidth to deduce the concentration. In addition, a more precise value for the rate constant for methyl radical recombination than available earlier was employed. The new value of mu(2) is in very good agreement with high-quality ab initio calculations. Furthermore, the ratio of the transition dipole moments of the nu(2) and nu(3) fundamental bands in the gas phase is now in highly satisfactory agreement with the ratio determined for the condensed phase.     

Stark shift of the A2Pi(1/2) state in 174YbF

We have measured the Stark shift of the A2Pi(1/2)-X2Sigma+ transition in YbF. We use a molecular beam triple resonance method, with two laser transitions acting as pump and probe, assisted by an rf transition that tags a single hyperfine transition of the X state. After subtracting the known ground state Stark shift, we obtain a value of 70.3(1.5) Hz/(V/cm)2 for the static electric polarizability of the state A2Pi(1/2) (J=1/2),f by fitting our data to a purely quadratic Stark shift in the interval 0-5 kV/cm. A more exact analysis that does not assume a perfectly quadratic Stark effect yields the value mu(e)=2.48(3) D for the electric dipole moment of the A2Pi(1/2)(v=0) state.     

Ab initio vibrational transition dipole moments and intensities of formaldehyde

Vibrational transition dipole moments and absorption band intensities for the ground state of formaldehyde, including the deuterated isotopic forms, are calculated. The analysis is based on ab initio SCF and CI potential energy and dipole moment surfaces. The formalism derives from second-order perturbation theory and involves the expansion of the dipole moment in terms of normal coordinates, as well as the incorporation of point group symmetry in the selection of the dipole moment components for the allowed transitions. Dipole moment expansion coefficients for the three molecule-fixed Cartesian coordinates of formaldehyde are calculated for internal and normal coordinate representations. Transition dipole moments and absorption band intensities of the fundamental, first overtone, combination, and second overtone transitions are reported. The calculated intensities and dipole moment derivatives are compared to experiment and discussed in the context of molecular orbital and bond polarization theory.     

Absolute intensities of NH-stretching transitions in dimethylamine and pyrrole

Vibrational spectra of vapor-phase dimethylamine (DMA) and pyrrole have been recorded in the 1000 to 13000 cm(-1) region using long path conventional spectroscopy techniques. We have focused on the absolute intensities of the NH-stretching fundamental and overtone transitions; Δν(NH) = 1-4 regions for DMA and the Δν(NH) = 1-3 regions for pyrrole. In the Δν(NH) = 1-3 regions for DMA, evidence of tunneling splitting associated with the NH-wagging mode is observed. For DMA, the fundamental NH-stretching transition intensity is weaker than the first NH-stretching overtone. Also, the fundamental NH-stretching transition in DMA is much weaker than the fundamental transition in pyrrole. We have used an anharmonic oscillator local mode model with ab initio calculated local mode parameters and dipole moment functions at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ level to calculate the NH-stretching intensities and explain this intensity anomaly in DMA.     

Ab initio rotation-vibration spectra of HCN and HNC

We have calculated an ab initio HCN/HNC linelist for all transitions up to J= 25 and 18000 cm(-1) above the zero point energy. This linelist contains more than 200 million lines each with frequencies and transition dipoles. The linelist has been calculated using our semi-global HCN/HNC VQZANO + PES and dipole moment surface, which were reported in van Mourik et al. (J. Chem. Phys. 115 (2001) 3706). With this linelist we synthesise absorption spectra of HCN and HNC at 298 K and we present the band centre and band transition dipoles for the bands which are major features in these spectra. Several of the HCN bands and many of the HNC bands have not been previously studied. Our line intensities reproduce via fully ab initio methods the unusual intensity structure of the HCN CN stretch fundamental (00(0)1) for the first time and also the forbidden (02(2)0) HCN bending overtone. We also compare the J = 1-->0 pure rotational transition dipole in the HCN/HNC ground and vibrationally excited states with experimental and existing ab initio results.     

Theoretical study of the UV photodissociation of Cl2: potentials, transition moments, extinction coefficients, and Cl*/Cl branching ratio

Potential energy curves for the X (1)Sigma(g) (+) ground state and Omega=0(u) (+), 1(u) valence states and dipole moments for the 0(u) (+), 1(u)-X transitions are obtained in an ab initio configuration interaction study of Cl(2) including spin-orbit coupling. In contrast to common assumptions, it is found that the B (3)Pi(0(+)u)-X transition moment strongly depends on internuclear distance, which has an important influence on the Cl(2) photodissociation. Computed energy curves and transition moments are employed to calculate the A, B, C<--X extinction coefficients, the total spectrum for the first absorption band, and the Cl(*)((2)P(1/2))/Cl((2)P(3/2)) branching ratio as a function of excitation wavelength. The calculated data are shown to be in good agreement with available experimental results.     

On the ultraviolet photodissociation of H(2)Te

The photodissociation of H(2)Te through excitation in the first absorption band is investigated by means of multireference spin-orbit configuration interaction (CI) calculations. Bending potentials for low-lying electronic states of H(2)Te are obtained in C(2v) symmetry for Te-H distances fixed at the ground state equilibrium value of 3.14a(0), as well as for the minimum energy path constrained to R(1)=R(2). Asymmetric cuts of potential energy surfaces for excited states (at R(1)=3.14a(0) and theta;=90.3 degrees ) are obtained for the first time. It is shown that vibrational structure in the 380-400 nm region of the long wavelength absorption tail is due to transitions to 3A('), which has a shallow minimum at large HTe-H separations. Transitions to this state are polarized in the molecular plane, and this state converges to the excited TeH((2)Pi(1/2))+H((2)S) limit. These theoretical data are in accord with the selectivity toward TeH((2)Pi(1/2)) relative to TeH((2)Pi(3/2)) that has been found experimentally for 355 nm H(2)Te photodissociation. The calculated 3A(')<--XA(') transition dipole moment increases rapidly with HTe-H distance; this explains the observation of 3A(') vibrational structure for low vibrational levels, despite unfavorable Franck-Condon factors. According to the calculated vertical energies and transition moment data, the maximum in the first absorption band at approximately 245 nm is caused by excitation to 4A("), which has predominantly 2(1)A(") ((1)B(1) in C(2v) symmetry) character.     

Symmetry-adapted-cluster configuration interaction study of the doublet states of HCl+: potential energy curves, dipole moments, and transition dipole moments

The electronic structure of the HCl(+) molecular ion has been calculated using the general-R symmetry-adapted-cluster configuration interaction (SAC-CI) method. The authors present the potential energy curves, dipole moments, and transition dipole moments for a series of doublet states. The data are compared with the previous CASSCF and MCSCF calculations. The SAC-CI results reproduce quite well the data available in literature and extend the knowledge on the HCl(+) electronic structure for several higher states. The calculated R-dependent behavior of both dipole moments and transition dipole moments for a series of bound and unbound states reveals an intricate dissociation process at intermediate distances (R>R(e)). The pronounced maxima in transition dipole moment (TDM) describing transitions into high electronic states (X (2)Pi-->3 (2)Pi, X (2)Pi-->3 (2)Sigma, 2 (2)Pi-->3 (2)Pi, 3 (2)Pi-->4 (2)Pi) occur at different interatomic separations. Such TDM features are promising for selection of excitation pathways and, consequently, for an optimal control of the dissociation products.     

Theoretical investigation of ground and excited states of the methylene amidogene radical (H(2)CN)

The excited states and the absorption spectrum of the methylene amidogene radical are studied by high-level ab initio calculations. The multireference configuration interaction method was used in combination with different basis sets and basis set extrapolation to compute equilibrium geometries, harmonic frequencies, and excitation energies of the four lowest doublet electronic states of the title species. Potential curves and transition dipole moment functions were determined along the normal mode coordinates of the electronic ground state. These functions were employed to determine vibronic absorption spectra. The intensities of dipole forbidden but vibronically allowed transitions were calculated by explicitly evaluating integrals over the vibrational wave functions and the transition dipole functions of the involved electronic states. By this method the oscillator strengths of the dipole allowed (2)A(1)<--(2)B(2) and the dipole forbidden (2)B(1)<--(2)B(2) bands were computed. It turns out that the dipole forbidden transition is two orders of magnitude weaker than the dipole allowed one. The 0-0 excitation energies are found to be 30 256 cm(-1) for the (2)B(1) state and 34,646 cm(-1) for the (2)A(1) state. From the combined results of the excitation energies and oscillator strengths it is concluded that the experimentally observed peaks must be due to the (2)A(1) state, in contradiction to earlier assignments.     

The absorption spectrum of D2: ultrasensitive cavity ring down spectroscopy of the (2-0) band near 1.7 μm and accurate ab initio line list up to 24,000 cm(-1)

Eleven very weak electric quadrupole transitions Q(2), Q(1), S(0)-S(8) of the first overtone band of D(2) have been measured by very high sensitivity CW-cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS) between 5850 and 6720 cm(-1). The noise equivalent absorption of the recordings is on the order of α(min) ≈ 3 × 10(-11) cm(-1). By averaging a high number of spectra, the noise level was lowered to α(min) ≈ 4 × 10(-12) cm(-1) in order to detect the S(8) transition which is among the weakest transitions ever detected in laboratory experiments (line intensity on the order of 1.8 × 10(-31) cm/molecule at 296 K). A Galatry profile was used to reproduce the measured line shape and derive the line strengths. The pressure shift and position at zero pressure limit were determined from recordings with pressures ranging between 10 and 750 Torr. A highly accurate theoretical line list was constructed for pure D(2) at 296 K. The intensity threshold was fixed to a value of 1 × 10(-34) cm/molecule at 296 K. The obtained line list is provided as supplementary material. It extends up to 24,000 cm(-1) and includes 201 transitions belonging to ten v-0 cold bands (v = 0-9) and three v-1 hot bands (v = 1-3). The energy levels include the relativistic and quantum electrodynamic corrections as well as the effects of the finite nuclear mass. The quadrupole transition moments are calculated using highly accurate adiabatic wave functions. The CRDS line positions and intensities of the first overtone band are compared to the corresponding calculated values and to previous measurements of the S(0)-S(3) lines. The agreement between the CRDS and theoretical results is found within the claimed experimental uncertainties (on the order of 1 × 10(-3) cm(-1) and 2% for the positions and intensities, respectively) while the previous S(0)-S(3) measurements showed important deviations for the line intensities.     

Measurement of the transition dipole moment of the first hot band of the nu2 mode of the methyl radical by diode laser spectroscopy

The line strengths of five Q-branch lines of the first hot band of the out-of-plane bending vibration (2(1)(2)) of the methyl radical, CH 3, have been measured using infrared laser absorption spectroscopy. The spectra of the radical were measured in situ in a microwave discharge using ditertiary butyl peroxide, diluted in argon as the precursor. The line strengths were used to determine the transition dipole moment of the hot band. Absolute concentrations of the radical were required for this purpose, and these were determined kinetically from the measured decays of the spectral lines after the discharge was extinguished. The translational, rotational, and vibrational temperatures were also determined spectroscopically from measured integrated line intensities and line widths. The transition dipole moment of the first hot band was determined to be 0.31(6) D. This value is in satisfactory agreement with the value of 0.27(3) D from a high-precision ab initio calculation using the self-consistent electron pairs (SCEP) method reported by Botschwina, Flesch, and Meyer [Botschwina, P.; Flesch, J.; Meyer, W. Chem. Phys. 1983, 74, 321].     

CH2 b̃1B1-ã1A1 band origin at 1.20 μm

The origin band in the b?(1)B(1)-a?(1)A(1) transition of CH(2) near 1.2 μm has been recorded at Doppler-limited resolution using diode laser transient absorption spectroscopy. The assignments of rotational transitions terminating in upper state levels with K(a) = 0 and 1, were confirmed by ground state combination differences and extensive optical-optical double resonance experiments. The assigned lines are embedded in a surprisingly dense spectral region, which includes a strong hot band, b?(0,1,0) K(a) = 0 - a?(0,1,0) K(a) = 1 sub-band lines, with combination or overtone transitions in the a?(1)A(1) state likely responsible for the majority of unassigned transitions in this region. From measured line intensities and an estimate of the concentration of CH(2) in the sample, we find the transition moment square for the 0(00) ← 1(10) transition in the b?(1)B(1)(0,0,0)(0)-a?(1)A(1)(0,0,0)(1) sub-band is 0.005(1) D(2). Prominent b?(1)B(1)(0,1,0)(0)-a?(1)A(1)(0,1,0)(1) hot band lines were observed in the same spectral region. Comparison of the intensities of corresponding rotational transitions in the two bands suggests the hot band has an intrinsic strength approximately 28 times larger than the origin band. Perturbations of the excited state K(a) = 0 and 1 levels are observed and discussed. The new measurements will lead to improved future theoretical modeling and calculations of the Renner-Teller effect between the a? and b? states in CH(2).     

Ab initio study of the KrH+ photodissociation

The multireference spin-orbit configuration interaction method is employed to calculate potential energy curves for the ground and low-lying excited states of the KrH(+) cation. For the first time, the spin-orbit interaction is taken into account and electric dipole moments are computed for transitions to the states responsible for the first absorption continuum (A band) of KrH(+). On this basis, the partial and total absorption spectra in this energy range are obtained. It is shown that the A-band absorption is dominated by the parallel A (1)Sigma(+)<--X (1)Sigma(+) transition. In the low-energy part of the band (<83x10(3) cm(-1)) the absorption is mainly caused by the spin-forbidden b (3)Pi(0(+) )<--X (1)Sigma(+) excitation, while perpendicular transitions to the B (1)Pi and b (3)Pi(1) states are significantly weaker. The branching ratio Gamma for the photodissociation products is calculated and it is shown to increase smoothly from 0 in the red tail of the band to 1 at E>or=90x10(3) cm(-1). The latter value corresponds to the exclusive formation of the spin-excited Kr(+)((2)P(12)) ions, which may be used to obtain laser generation on the Kr(+)((2)P(12)-(2)P(32)) transition.     

The infrared spectrum of cyclic-N3: theoretical prediction

We have carried out the first calculations of the infrared absorption spectrum of cyclic-N(3). Accurate vibrational energies and wave functions computed with incorporation of the geometric phase effect (via gauge theory) and using an ab initio potential energy surface were employed in this work. A sophisticated fully dimensional dipole moment function was constructed using accurate ab initio calculations and a three-dimensional-spline interpolation. Transformation of the dipole moment vector function from the reference frame associated with instantaneous principal axes of inertia to the laboratory-fixed reference frame was carried out using hyperspherical coordinates. We found that the permanent dipole moment of cyclic-N(3) in the ground vibrational state is relatively small (170 mD). The excited vibrational states show permanent dipole moments in the 10-25 mD range. The most intense part of the infrared absorption spectrum is observed in the deep infrared part of spectrum, 75-275?cm(-1), where five lines exhibit absolute absorption intensities in the range between 0.5 and 1.2 km/mol. These transitions correspond to excitation of the pseudorotational progression of states. Several unique spectroscopic features discussed in the paper should help to identify cyclic-N(3) in the laboratory.     

Transition probabilities and average cross sections for the Na2 B1pi(u) --> X1sigma(g)+ system using as excitation the 4880 A Ar+ laser line

The fluorescence spectrum of Na2 induced by the 4879.86 A line of an Argon ion laser has been analyzed with special emphasis on determination of accurate relative intensities. We have observed nineteen fluorescence series for the B1pi(u) --> X1sigma(g)+ band system. Some series are reported for the first time. The radiative transition probabilities for the observed fluorescence series were calculated using hybrid potential energy curves for the B1pi(u) and X1sigma(g)+ states constructed up to dissociation and a B-X transition dipole moment function. Radiative lifetimes for the rovibrational levels of the upper states pumped by the laser line have also been calculated. The transition probabilities and lifetimes agree with the corresponding observed measurements usually within the experimental uncertainty. From the rotational satellite structure with deltaJ' = +/- 1, +/- 2...+/- 20, for some nu'-bands of the most intense fluorescence series induced by emission from the vibrational-rotational levels: nu' = 6, J' = 43 and v' = 9, J' = 56, collision-induced transition rates and average cross sections have been obtained.     

Cavity-Enhanced Saturation Spectroscopy of Molecules with sub-kHz Accuracy

Saturation spectroscopy is frequently used to obtain sub-Doppler measurement of atomic and molecular transitions. Optical resonant cavities can be used to enhance the effective absorption path length, and the laser power inside the cavity as well to saturate very weak ro-vibrational transitions of molecules. Three different cavity-enhanced methods, cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy, cavity ring-down spectroscopy, and noise-immune cavity enhanced optical heterodyne molecular spectroscopy (NICE-OHMS), were compared by measuring the Lamb dip of a C₂H₂ line at 1.4 μm using a cavity with a finesse of 120000. The center of the line was determined by different cavity-enhanced methods, each giving a sub-kHz (δv/v≈10^-12) statistical uncertainty. The sensitivity and precision of different methods were analyzed and compared. As demonstrated in this study, the NICE-OHMS method is the most sensitive one, but more investigation on the systematic uncertainty is necessary before its application in metrology studies toward a sub-kHz accuracy.     

Vibrational overtone spectroscopy of phenol and its deuterated isotopomers

We have measured the OH- and OD-stretching fundamental and overtone spectra of phenol and its deuterated isotopomers under jet-cooled conditions using nonresonant ionization detection spectroscopy and vapor-phase infrared (IR) and near-infrared (NIR) spectra at room temperature using conventional and photoacoustic spectroscopy. The OH- and OD-stretching bands in the jet-cooled spectra are about 1-10 cm(-1) wide and generally show a few Lorentzian shaped peaks. The bands in the room-temperature spectra have widths of 20-30 cm(-1) and display clear rotational profiles. The band profiles in the jet-cooled spectra arise mostly from nonstatistical intramolecular vibrational redistribution (IVR) with specific coupling to "doorway" states, which are likely to involve CH- and CD-stretching vibrations. The transition dipole moment that determines the rotational structure is found to rotate significantly from the fundamental to the third overtone and is not directed along the OH(D) bond. We use these calculated transition dipole moments to simulate the rotational structure. We determine the rotational temperature in the jet-cooled spectra to be about 0.5 K. Anharmonic oscillator local mode calculations of frequencies and intensities of the OH- and OD-stretching transitions are compared with our measured results. The calculated intensities are in good agreement with the absolute intensities obtained from conventional spectroscopy and with the relative intensities obtained from the room-temperature laser spectroscopy.     

Visualizations of transition dipoles, charge transfer, and electron-hole coherence on electronic state transitions between excited states for two-photon absorption

The one-photon absorption (OPA) properties of donor-pi-bridge-acceptor-pi-bridge-donor (D-pi-A-pi-D)-type 2,1,3-benzothiadiazoles (BTD) were studied with two dimensional (2D) site and three dimensional (3D) cube representations. The 2D site representation reveals the electron-hole coherence on electronic state transitions from the ground state. The 3D representation shows the orientation of transition dipole moment with transition density, and the charge redistribution on the excited states with charge difference density. In this paper, we further developed the 2D site and 3D cube representations to investigate the two-photon absorption (TPA) properties of D-pi-A-pi-D-type BTD on electronic transitions between excited states. With the new developed 2D site and 3D cube representations, the orientation of transition dipole moment, the charge redistribution, and the electron-hole coherence for TPA of D-pi-A-pi-D-type BTD on electronic state transitions between excited states were visualized, which promote deeper understanding to the optical and electronic properties for OPA and TPA.