Derivation of the nonrigid rotation-large-amplitude internal motion Hamiltonian of the general molecule

The nonrigid (effective) rotation-large-amplitude internal motion Hamiltonian (NRLH) of the general molecule with one or more large-amplitude vibrations has been derived to the order of magnitude κ²T_VIB. The derivation takes advantage of the idea of a nonrigid reference configuration and uses the contact transformation method as a mathematical tool. The NRLH has a form fairly similar to that of the effective rotation Hamiltonian of semirigid (i.e., normal) molecules. From a careful examination of the Eckart-Sayvetz conditions and of the Taylor expansions of the potential energy surface in terms of curvilinear displacement coordinates, three types of large-amplitude internal coordinates of different physical meaning (effective large-amplitude internal coordinates, real large-amplitude internal coordinates, and reaction path coordinates) are described. To test the ideas and the formulas the effective bending potential function of the C₃ molecule in its ground electronic and ground stretching vibrational state is calculated from the ab initio potential energy surface given by W. P. Kraemer, P. R. Bunker, and M. Yoshimine (J. Mol. Spectrosc. 107, 191–207 (1984)). The calculations were carried out by using either the effective or the real large-amplitude bending coordinate of C₃. The NRLH theory is compared to the nonrigid bender theory at a theoretical level as well as through the results of the test calculations.     

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 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.     

The nonrigid bender Hamiltonian using an alternative perturbation technique

The derivation of the nonrigid bender Hamiltonian for the calculation of the rotation-vibration energies of a triatomic molecule was completed by P. Jensen and P. R. Bunker [J. Mol. Spectrosc. 99, 348–356 (1983)] using Van Vleck perturbation theory. This perturbation technique assumes that the bending vibration frequency is much less than the stretching vibration frequencies (such as in the ground electronic state of C₃). For molecules such as H₂O, for which this is not the case, an alternative formulation of the theory is possible in which allowance is made for the dependence of the perturbation theory energy denominators on the bending vibration quantum number v₂ and on the rotational quantum number K. This was pointed out by A. R. Hoy and P. R. Bunker [J. Mol. Spectrosc. 74, 1–8 (1979)], and some of the corrections were made by them. We now develop the perturbation theory expressions allowing for the dependence of all the energy denominators on v₂ and K.     

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.     

Effective torsion-rotation Hamiltonian for methanol-type molecules

A fourth-order effective Hamiltonian has been derived for the torsion-rotation problem of a methanol-type molecule, i.e., for a C_3v top attached to a C_s frame. First, symmetry considerations based on a frame-fixed axis system are used to determine allowed terms in the Hamiltonian. These terms are then subjected to a contact transformation to remove the indeterminate ones. This procedure is essentially an extension of Watson's method for semirigid molecules to the torsion-rotation problem. It is demonstrated that the Hamiltonian derived in the present work is capable of improving the fittings of the millimeter and submillimeter absorption frequencies of CH₃OH and CH₃SH.     

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.     

The kinetic energy contribution U(ρ) to the potential energy in the Hougen-Bunker-Johns Hamiltonian

The pseudo potential energy term U(ρ) obtained from the kinetic energy term of the Hougen-Bunker-Johns (HBJ) rotation-vibration Hamiltonian has been obtained in general to order of magnitude κ²T_v. The expression obtained is relatively easy to evaluate and should be used in any semirigid bender or nonrigid bender Hamiltonian that is derived from the HBJ Hamiltonian.     

The Infrared Spectrum of C2D2: The Bending States up to v4+v5=2

The vibration-rotation spectrum of ¹³C₂D₂ has been recorded in the infrared region between 420 and 1100 cm⁻¹ with an effective resolution ranging from 0.004 to 0.006 cm⁻¹, and in the millimeter-wave region between 68 and 518 GHz. A total of about 1400 rovibrational transitions (66 of which have been measured in the millimeter-wave region) have been assigned to 8 bands with 15 l-vibrational components involving the bending states up to v_t=v₄+v₅=2. The ground state and nine vibrationally excited states have been characterized. All the measured transitions have been analyzed simultaneously by adopting a model Hamiltonian which takes into account the usual vibration and rotation l-type resonances, together with the Darling-Dennison coupling between the v₄=2 and v₅=2 bending states. The derived spectroscopic parameters reproduce the transition wavenumbers with a standard deviation of the fit of the order of the experimental uncertainty.     

The potential function and rotation-vibration energy levels of the methyl radical CH3

The equilibrium bond length and the shape of the complete potential energy curve for the methyl radical CH₃ are determined. This is done by fitting the experimental data [mainly from C. Yamada, E. Hirota, and K. Kawaguchi, J. Chem. Phys.75, 5256–5264 (1981)] using the nonrigid invertor Hamiltonian and a model anharmonic potential function. As a result the v₂ (out-of-plane bending) dependence of the rotational constants is explained and the v₂ dependence of the spin-rotation coupling constants is modeled. In addition, some of the vibrational energies and rotational, centrifugal distortion, and spin-rotation constants are predicted for the ¹³CH₃, ¹²CD₃, and ¹²CT₃ isotopes.     

The Infrared Spectrum of CCH2: The Bending States up to v4+v5=4

The vibration-rotation spectra of ¹³C monosubstituted acetylene, ¹²C¹³CH₂, have been recorded in the region between 450 and 3200 cm⁻¹ with an effective resolution ranging from 0.004 to 0.006 cm⁻¹. A total of about 5300 rovibrational transitions have been assigned to 53 bands involving the bending states up to v_t=v₄+v₅=4, allowing the characterization of the ground state and of 30 vibrationally excited states. All the bands involving states up to v_t=3 have been analyzed simultaneously by adopting a model Hamiltonian which takes into account the vibration and rotation l-type resonances. The derived spectroscopic parameters reproduce the transition wavenumbers with a RMS value of the order of the experimental uncertainty. Using the same model larger discrepancies between observed and calculated values have been obtained for transitions involving states with v_t=4. These could be satisfactorily reproduced by only adopting, in addition to the previously determined parameters which were constrained in the analysis, a set of effective constants for each vibrational manifold.     

Characteristic patterns in microwave spectra of quasi-symmetric top molecules of the WH3XYZ type

Characteristic patterns in microwave spectra of quasi-symmetric top molecules of the WH₃XYZ type are discussed in terms of the quasi-symmetric top model accounting for the large-amplitude WXY bending motion, and internal and overall rotation. The molecules SiH₃NCS, SiH₃NCO, CH₃NCS, CH₃NCO, and CH₃SCN, exemplifying the symmetric, quasi-symmetric, and asymmetric top molecules, are considered. The correlation parameter γ_v is defined to quantify the position of a WH₃XYZ molecule between the two symmetric and asymmetric top limiting cases. The quasi-symmetric top model is compared to the usual approach to the rotational-vibrational problem of symmetric top molecules.     

Hamiltonian for a symmetric-top molecule in an electric field

A method is presented by which one can systematically derive the types of terms, with regard to rotational as well as electric-field dependence and vibronic selection rules, that can occur in the effective Hamiltonian for a symmetric-top molecule placed in a homogeneous electric field. Rotation and molecular point groups somewhat modified from the ordinary ones are used for the derivation. The method is applied to the case of a C_3v molecule as an example, yielding a list of the operators occurring in the effective Hamiltonian with an electric-field dependence up to the second order.     

Perturbative Handling of the Renner-Teller Effect and Spin-Orbit Coupling in Π Electronic States of Triatomic and Tetra-atomic Molecules

Second-order perturbative formulae for handling the Renner-Teller effect combined with the spin-orbit coupling in Π electronic states of triatomic and symmetric (ABBA-type) tetra-atomic molecules with linear equilibrium geometry are derived. Two schemes for partition of the model Hamiltonian are employed: In the first the spin-orbit coupling term is treated as a perturbation, in the second it is included in the zeroth-order Hamiltonian. It is demonstrated that both approaches lead to the same results when the spin-orbit coupling constant is small compared to the bending frequency, but much larger than the splitting of potential surfaces upon bending. The perturbative formulae derived for tetra-atomic molecules are used to compute the spectrum of the X²Π_u state of the acetylene ion, employing the parameters obtained in ab initio calculations. The results are compared with those generated in corresponding variational computations.     

Perturbative Handling of the Renner-Teller Effect and Spin-Orbit Coupling in Δ Electronic States of Triatomic and Tetra-atomic Molecules

Second-order perturbative formulae for handling the Renner-Teller effect combined with the spin-orbit coupling in Δ electronic states of triatomic and symmetric (ABBA-type) tetra-atomic molecules with linear equilibrium geometry are derived via two schemes for partition of the model Hamiltonian. The formulae for triatomic molecules are employed to compute the spectrum of the X⁵Δ_g state of FeH₂. The parameters entering the model Hamiltonian are generated by means of ab initio calculations.     

On the relation between the energy level classification of a nonrigid molecule and the symmetry of its equilibrium configurations

The problem of changes in the energy level classification of a nonrigid molecule upon a change in its equilibrium configurations, in the case in which different possible geometries of such configurations correspond to different point groups, is considered for the example of the nonrigid dimethylacetylene molecule CH₃C₂CH₃ in the ground electronic state.     

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.     

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.     

Development of the Hamiltonian and transition moment operators of symmetric top molecules using the O (3) ⊃ C∞v ⊃ C3v group chain

We present a development of the Hamiltonian, dipole moment, and polarizability operators for XY₃Z molecules. These rovibrational operators are written with the aid of a tensorial formalism derived from the one already used in Dijon and adapted to the XY₃Z symmetric tops in a recent paper [A. El Hilali, V. Boudon, M. Loëte, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 234 (2005) 166-174]. We use the O (3) ⊃ C_∞v ⊃ C_3v group chain. Expressions for the matrix elements are derived for these operators.     

Effective correlation-free reduced Hamiltonian for the νt(E), νn(A1) Coriolis-interacting states of C3v symmetric-top molecules

The effective correlation-free vibrational-rotational Hamiltonian for the Coriolis-interacting ν_t(E) and ν_n(A₁) states in C_3v molecules has been derived. The Hamiltonian includes the terms describing the x-y Coriolis interaction up to the fourth-order, and several useful reduction schemes for the Hamiltonian are suggested.