A new look at rotational and vibrational excitation in the scattering of Li+ from N2 and CO at energies between 4 and 17 eV

New experimental time-of-flight distributions are reported for Li⁺-N₂ and Li²-CO at two center-of-mass energies of about 8 and 16 eV and large scattering angles θ_lab ? 120°. The Li⁺-N₂ spectra show two widely spaced maxima, whereas the Li⁺-CO spectra show two and sometimes three maxima. The results are consistent with the model of rotational rainbows, and have also been analyzed in terms of an impulsive model involving collisions with the individual atoms of the molecules with energy-dependent masses. Classical trajectories for a simple model potential reveal only small contributions from vibrational excitation.     

Measurements of differential cross sections for vibrational quantum transitions in scattering of Li+ on H2

A pulsed monoenergetic ⁷Li⁺ ion beam (lab. energy 10–40 eV) is scattered from a highly collimated (= 1.5°) H₂ nozzle beam. The time-of-flight spectrum of the ions scattered in the forward laboratory direction shows both a fast peak corresponding to forward center-of-mass scattering and a slow peak corresponding to wide-angle center-of-mass scattering. These peaks have been further resolved to show contributions from individual vibrational quantum transitions. From an analysis of the time-of flight spectra the differential inelastic cross sections for a wide range of angles and energies between 2 eV <E_cm < 9 eV have been determined. The spectra also contain information on rotational inelastic cross sections.     

Inner-shell electron energy-loss spectroscopy of SF6 at very high momentum transfer

Non-dipole S 2p and S 2s core excitation of SF₆ has been studied using inelastic electron scattering with variable scattering angles and impact energies (momentum transfer (K), 0.9<K²<113 a.u.⁻²). A non-dipole excitation at 181 eV is found to be the dominant S 2p spectral feature at large momentum transfer. A variable impact energy, fixed-K study shows that the first Born approximation fails under low impact energy, large scattering angle conditions. This study illustrates the importance of exploring a wide range of the inelastic scattering surface to ensure proper understanding of molecular spectroscopy and scattering dynamics.     

Impulsive inelastic scattering of O+(4S) by isotopic hydrogen molecules

We present experimental evidence that at relative energies above 10 eV the non-reactive inelastic scattering of O⁺ by H₂, D₂, and HD arises from impulsive elastic scattering of 0⁺ by individual H or D atoms. The relation of this impulsive non-reactive scattering to the reactive scattering from these systems is briefly discussed.     

Non-adiabatic collisions in H+ + O2 system: An ab initio study

An ab initio study on the low-lying potential energy surfaces of H⁺ + O₂ system for different orientations (γ) of H⁺ have been undertaken employing the multi-reference configuration interaction (MRCI) method and Dunning’s cc-pVTZ basis set to examine their role in influencing the collision dynamics. Nonadiabatic interactions have been analysed for the 2 × 2 case in two dimensions for γ = 0°, 45° and 90°, and the corresponding diabatic potential energy surfaces have been obtained using the diabatic wavefunctions and their CI coefficients. The characteristics of the collision dynamics have been analysed in terms of vibrational coupling matrix elements for both inelastic and charge transfer processes in the restricted geometries. The strengths of coupling matrix elements reflect the vibrational excitation patterns observed in the state-to-state beam experiments.     

Dissociation of hydrogen molecules in collisions with light alkali ions. II. Li+-H2

The dissociation of a ground state H₂ molecule in single collisions with a Li⁺ ion has been studied using a time of flight technique over a large range of center of mass scattering angles (30° ? υ ? 180°) and collision energies (16 eV < E_cm < 55.5 ev).The results have been transformed into the center of mass system to obtain inelastic differential cross sections (contour maps). In contrast to most other scattering experiments on collision induced dissociation, the results at high energies (E_cm > 40 eV) cannot be explained by a two-step mechanism. Instead dissociation appears to occur in a time comparable to the collision time. The results are consistent with several collision models. Of these the spectator model in which only one of the atoms of the molecule is struck by the incident ion is favored since it is in good agreement with the differential cross sections for backward scattering.     

Neutral scattering and vibrational excitation in K+Br2 Collisions

Differential cross sections are presented for neutral scattering of K atoms in collisions with Br₂ molecules in the energy range from 20 to 150 eV. In addition energy-loss spectra for the scattered K atoms are shown. The differential cross sections show a large peak near the forward direction. The energy-loss spectra point to considerable vibrational excitation at small angles. The results are attributed to reneutralization from an ion-pair state formed during the collision. In some cases this process can involve three potential surface crossings. The experimental results can be reproduced in simple trajectory calculations on diabatic potential surfaces. The calculations show that the forward scattering is rainbow scattering, caused by the internal motion of the Br₂^? molecular ion during the collision. There is no analog to this rainbow in atom-atom scattering. The internal moti is also responsible for the observed vibrational excitation.     

The structure of the H3O+ (hydronium) ion

Near Hartree-Fock level ab initio molecular orbital calculations on H₃O⁺ and a minimum energy structure with θ(HOH) = 112.5° and r(OH) = 0.963 Å and an inversion barrier of 1.9 kcal/mole. By comparing these results to calculations on NH₃ and H₂O, where precise experimental geometries are known, we estimate the “true” geometry of isolated H₃O⁺ to have a structure with θ(HOH) = 110-112°, r(OH) = 0.97–0.98 Å and an inversion barrier of 2–3 kcal/mole. Our prediction for the proton affinity of water is ≈ 170 kcal/mole, which is somewhat smaller than the currently accepted value.     

Triplet states in 1,3-butadiene

The electron impact excitation spectrum 0f 1,3-butadiene has been studied at 20, 35 and 55 eV impact energies and scattering angles of 10° to 80°. Two low lying states are observed with maxima at 3.2 and 4.9 eV, and are identified as the ³B_u state and ³A_g state respectively     

Conformational analysis of X3PNP(O)X2 and (X3PNPX3)+ for X = H,F, Cl,CH3 by the pcilo method

Conformational energy maps have been calculated, using the PCILO method, for X₃PNP(O)X₂ and (X₃PNPX₃)⁺ for X = H, F, Cl, CH₃ as a function of the PNP angle. In H₃PNP(O)H₂ the global energy minimum corresponds to the eclipsed conformation of the H₃P and P(O)H₂ fragments for all PNP angles, while in Cl₃PNP(O)Cl₂, the global minimum always has Cl₃P and P(O)C1₂ staggered: the global minimum in F₃PNP(O)F₂ corresponds to eclipsed F₃P and P(O)F₂ fragments at low PNP angles and staggered fragments at high PNP angles: in (CH₃))₃PNPO(CH₃)₂ the global minimum conformation is very sensitive to ∠ PNP. Subordinate energy minima occur for all X₃PNP(O)X₂, species: in particular, there are two local conformational minima for Cl₃PNP(O)Cl₂ at the optimum value of ∠ PNP, and the relative energies of the three stable conformations are in good agreement with those derivable from the ³¹P NMR spectrum of this compound. In (X₃PNPX₃)⁺ the global minimum, usually the sole minimum on the conformational energy surface, is always close to the eclipsed conformation: free rotation of the X₃P groups relative to one another is approached in each (X₃PNPX₃)⁺ ion as ∠PNP approaches 180°. The conformations of the transition states for the equilibria between energy minima are reported with their relative energies, for X₃PNP(O)X₂ (X = H, F. Cl, CH₃) and for (Cl₃PNPCl₃)⁺     

Close-coupling elastic and inelastic integral and differential cross sections for Li+ + H2 collisions

The quantum mechanical close-coupling formalism is applied to the study of elastic and rotationally inelastic Li⁺ + H₂ collisions making use of the Kutzelnigg-Staemmler-Hoheisel potential energy surface. Integral and differential cross sections for j = 0 → 0 and j = 0 → 2 are obtained in the collision energy range 0.2 to 0.9 eV and for j = 1 → 1 and j = 1 → 3 at 0.6 eV. A rainbow structure is observed in both the elastic and inelastic angular distributions and a quenching of the fast oscillations is found in the cross sections for j = 1 initially compared to the case j = 0 initially. At 0.6 eV. the calculated quantum mechanical angular distributions are compared to those from a classical trajectory calculation using the same surface and to the experimental ones. The dynamics of rotational excitation in the Li⁺ + H₂ system is contrasted to rotational excitation in systems for which the atom-diatom interaction is predominantly repulsive.     

Electronic-to-vibrational energy transfer reactions: Na(3 2P) + CO (X1Σ+, υ=0)

The vibrational distribution of CO produced from the electronic-to-vibrational energy transfer reaction: Na(3²P) + CO(X¹Σ⁺, υ=0)→Na(3²S) + CO(X¹Σ⁺, υ?8) has been determined by means of infrared resonance absorption measurements employing a cw CO laser. A flash-lamp-pumped dye laser is used to excite the ground state Na to the 3²P_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} and 3²P_{$\text{3}\text{2}$} states. The CO molecules formed in the reaction were found to be vibrationally excited up to the limits of available electronic energies carried by the excited Na atoms, and the vibrational population exhibits a maximum at υ=2. The efficiency of E→V energy transfer was determined to be 35%. Our present results were found to be consistent with the impulsive (half-collision) and curve-crossing models.     

Crystal and molecular structure of tricyclopentadienyltetrahydrofuranuranium(III), (η5-C5H5)3U·OC4H8

Tricyclopentadienyltetrahydrofuranuranium(III), (η⁵-C₅H₅)₃U·OC₄H₈, crystallizes in the centrosymmetric monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a 8.248(3), b 24.322(17), c 8.357(4) Å, β 101.29(5)°, V 1644.0 ų and ρ(calc) 2.04 g cm^?1 for Z = 4 and mol.wt. 595.0. Diffraction data (Mo-K_α, 2θ(max) 45°) were collected on an Enraf-Nonius CAD4 diffractometer and the structure was refined to R_w(F) 4.7% for those 1530 reflections having I > 2σ(I). The molecule consists of a distorted tetrahedral arrangement of THF and (η⁵-C₅H₅) ligands with CpUCp angles in the range 110.4–122.4° and CpUO angles between 90.2 and 106.0°. Individual uranium-carbon distances range from 2.76(2) to 2.82(2) Å and average 2.79[1] Å. The uranium-oxygen distance of 2.551(10) Å suggests a 10-coordinate U³⁺ radius of 1.20 Å in this class of compounds.     

Electronic-to-vibrational energy transfer reactions.X* + CO (X = O,I and Br)

The vibrational distribution of CO produced from the following two electronic-to-vibrational energy transfer reactions:

have been determined by means of infrared resonance absorption measurements employing a cw CO laser. The CO molecules formed in both reactions were found to be vibrationally excited up to the limits of available electronic energies carried by the excited atoms. A similar result was also observed in the Br(4²P_{$\text{1}\text{2}$}) + CO reaction, in which absorption occurred only in the 1 → 2 band. For the O^* + CO reaction the efficiency of E → V energy transfer was determined to be 16%. Our present results were found to be inconsistent with the impulsive (half-collision) model.     

Triatom-triatom collisions: Fixed angle close-coupling study of vibrational excitation in the 12CO2+13CO2 system

A close-coupling approach to the calculation of quantal vibrational transition probabilities for the fixed angle scattering of a linear triatomic molecule with another linear triatomic molecule is described. The method is applied to the ¹²CO₂+¹³C0₂ collisional system. For a calculated inelastic transition probability to have an appreciable magnitude, it is found that the amount of energy transferred in a transition must be very small and just one quantum of energy must be exchanged between either the symmetric stretch or the asymmetric stretch vibrational modes of ¹²C0₂ and ¹³CO₂. For collisional energies away from threshold, the probabilities for transitions involving the symmetric stretch ¹²CO₂ and ¹³CO₂ modes are insensitive to long range multipole terms in the potential energy surface, while the probabilities for energy exchange between the asymmetric stretch modes are considerably diminished when the long range terms are removed from the potential energy surface. A brief discussion is presented on the possibilities of extending the technique to the calculation of vibrational excitation cross sections for three-dimensional triato—triatom collisions.     

Formation of WF−6 and its dissociative products by collisional ionization

The formation of negative ions in electron transfer reactions between hyperthermal alkali atoms (Na, K) and WF₆ has been studied in the energy range 0–30 eV c.m. Relative cross sections and translational energy thresholds for ion pair formation have been measured, from which the following electron affinities (EA) and bond dissociation energies (D) have been derived: EA(WF₆) = 3.7 eV, EA(WF₅) = 1.25 eV, D(WF₅—F) = 5.1 eV, D)WF₅—F^?) = 5.4 eV, D(WF^?₅—F) = 7.6 eV. Several ion molecule reactions are discussed which result in formation of secondary fragmentation ions and WF^?₇.     

Dissociative ionization of O2 and N2 by electron impact — N+ and O+ kinetic energies and angular distributions

An apparatus containing cross molecular and pulsed electron beams has been used to obtain distributions in kinetic energy and angle of fast (? 0.5 eV) positive ions produced through dissociative ionization of N₂ and O₂ by impact of 50 to 2000 eV electrons. Four main O⁺ ion groups are observed with peak energies of 0.8, 2.0, 3.0, and 5.0 eV. Two main N⁺ groups peaking at 2.0 and 3.0 eV are seen. Angular distributions of both N⁺ and O⁺ ions are essentially isotropic for electron-beam-ion detection angles from 30° to 110°.     

Local inverse inelastic mean free path at interface

We calculated a local inverse inelastic mean free path (local-IIMFP) for electrons crossing a medium–medium interface, considering various incident electron energies, crossing angles and combinations of materials. We used an extension of a classical dielectric model developed by Li and co-workers for an electron crossing a surface (interface vacuum-medium). Moreover, the integration over the distance of the local-IIMFP allows to obtain the interface excitation parameter (or IEP) characterizing the change in excitation probability for an electron crossing an interface once caused by the presence of the interface in comparison with an electron for which only volume excitations are considered. We perform these calculations for angles between 0° and 80°, for electron energies between 500 and 2500 eV and for various pairs of materials, as Al/In for its academic interest or Au/Si and SiO₂/Si for their technological importance. Small but not negligible variations of the local-IIMFP and the IEP were observed for metal–metal or metal–semiconductor interfaces, while quite significant variations are obtained when one of the materials is a insulator.     

A semiclassical model for the vibrational excitation of spherical-top molecules in collisions with ions

A simple theory is presented to explain the previously observed single-mode vibrational excitation of the spherical-top molecules CH₄, CF₄ and SF₆ in collisions with H⁺ and Li⁺. The theory is based on a three-dimensional forced-oscillator model which has been modified to take account of many independent harmonic oscillators. For small-angle collisions the linear driving forces are the dipole-, polarizability- and quadrupole-derivatives taken from IR, Raman spectroscopy and simple estimates, respectively. To explain the results at larger angles near and beyond the rainbow it has been necessary to introduce short-range repulsive forces between the ions and the outer atoms of the molecule. For small angles both the predicted first moment of the energy transfer and the time-of-flight spectra agree quantitatively with the experimental results. At large angles, for which only the first moment of the energy is available, good qualitative agreement is obtained after a slight adjustment of the potential parameters. The energy transfer as a function of time is calculated and shows a different oscillatory behavior for the proton and Li⁺-ion systems. Also the effect of intra-mode coupling is investigated and shown to have only a small effect on the overall energy transfer. The paper closes with a discussion of the implications of these experiments and the possible role of rotational excitation. The field strengths in these ion scattering experiments are shown to be greater than in the strongest focused Q-switched laser pulses.     

Spectra and emission lifetimes of H2CS(Ã 1A2)

Fluorescence spectra and lifetimes of single vibronic levels of the first excited singlet state of H₂CS have been measured under effusive flow conditions. Fluorescence lifetimes of the single vibronic levels decrease from 140±3 μs (0°) to 68 μs(3¹4¹5¹) with increasing excitation energies. The promoting vibrational modes for the non-radiative transition are considered to be the out-of-plane bending (ν₄) and the asymmetric rocking (ν₆) modes rather than the asymmetric stretching mode (ν₅).