The rotational spectrum of the NiI radical in the X 2Delta(5/2) and A 2Pi(3/2) states

The millimeter- and submillimeter-wave spectra of the NiI radical in the X (2)Delta(5/2) and A (2)Pi(3/2) states were observed by a source-modulated microwave spectrometer. The NiI radical was generated by a dc glow discharge in the mixture of CH(3)I vapor and Ar gas through the sputtering reaction with a Ni cathode. Observed transition frequencies for each electronic state were independently analyzed using a polynomial energy expression based on Hund's case (c) approximation. The deperturbed rotational constants were also estimated by the perturbation analysis including interaction terms between the ground state and the lowest excited state.     

The electronic spectrum of the C2P free radical and a Renner-Teller analysis of the 2Delta and X 2Pi electronic states

Subsequent to our spectroscopic detection of the C(2)X(X=P,As) free radicals [F. X. Sunahori et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 129, 9600 (2007)], we have studied the electronic spectrum of the (2)Delta(i)-X (2)Pi(r) system of the jet-cooled C(2)P free radical in the 490-630 nm region. The high-resolution laser-induced fluorescence spectrum of the two spin components of the 0(0) (0) band of (12)C(2)P has been recorded, and the rotational and spin-orbit coupling constants have been determined for both electronic states. The Renner-Teller effect has been observed in both the (2)Pi and the (2)Delta states, and the vibrational structure has been assigned. For the ground state, all of the observed levels up to 3500 cm(-1) were fitted with a standard Renner-Teller model. The excited (2)Delta state vibrational levels were successfully fitted using literature energy level expressions derived from perturbation theory, yielding vibrational and Renner-Teller parameters for both (12)C(2)P and (13)C(2)P. The molecular structure of C(2)P in the ground and excited states has also been estimated and compared to ab initio calculations and the geometries of similar molecules.     

Near-infrared laser spectroscopy of NiI

Laser-induced fluorescence spectrum of NiI in the near infrared region of 714-770 nm has been recorded. Seven bands belonging to three electronic transition systems were observed and analyzed: the (0,0), (1,0), and (2,0) bands of [13.3] (2)Sigma(+)-A (2)Pi(3/2) system; the (1,1) and (0,1) bands of [13.9] (2)Pi(3/2)-X (2)Delta(5/2) system; and the (0,0) and (1,0) bands of [13.9] (2)Pi(3/2)-A (2)Pi(3/2) system. Spectra of isotopic molecules confirmed the vibrational quantum number assignment of the observed bands. Least-squares fit of rotationally resolved transition lines yielded accurate molecular constants for the v=0-2 levels of the [13.3] (2)Sigma(+) state, the v=0 level of the A (2)Pi(3/2), and the v=1 level of the X (2)Delta(5/2) state. The vibrational separation, DeltaG(1/2), of the ground state was measured to be 276.674 cm(-1). With the observation of the [13.9] (2)Pi(3/2)-A (2)Pi(3/2) and [13.9] (2)Pi(3/2)-X (2)Delta(5/2) transitions, we accurately determined the energy separation between the A (2)Pi(3/2) and the X (2)Delta(5/2) to be 163.847 cm(-1). This confirms that the order of the A (2)Pi(3/2) and X (2)Delta(5/2) states in NiI is reversed when compared with other nickel monohalides.     

Low-lying singlet and triplet electronic states of RhB

The low-lying XSigma+, a3Delta, A1Delta, b3Sigma+, B1Pi, c3Pi, C1Phi, D1Sigma+, E1Pi, d3Phi, and e3Pi electronic states of RhB have been investigated at the ab initio level, using the multistate multiconfigurational second-order perturbation (MS-CASPT2) theory, with extended atomic basis sets and inclusion of scalar relativistic effects. Among the eleven electronic states included in this work, only three (the X1Sigma+, D1Sigma+, and E1Pi states) have been investigated experimentally. Potential energy curves, spectroscopic constants, dipole moments, binding energies, and chemical bonding aspects are presented for all electronic states.     

Laser spectroscopy of NiBr: new electronic states and hyperfine structure

Laser induced fluorescence spectrum of NiBr in the visible region between 604 and 666 nm has been recorded and analyzed. Fourteen bands belonging to three electronic transition systems, namely, [15.1] (2)Delta(52)-X (2)Pi(32), [15.1] (2)Pi(32)-X (2)Pi(32), and [14.0] (2)Delta(52)-X (2)Pi(32) have been observed. Spectra of isotopic molecules were also observed and analyzed. Detailed analysis of the recorded spectra indicated that the two electronic states [15.1] (2)Pi(32) and [15.1] (2)Delta(52) lie about 1 cm(-1) apart from each other and J-dependent perturbation due to spin-uncoupling interaction has been observed. Least squares fitting procedures involving deperturbation matrix elements were used to fit the observed line positions, which yielded accurate molecular constants for the [15.1] (2)Pi(32) and [15.1] (2)Delta(52) states. In addition, the (1,0) band of the [15.1] (2)Delta(52)-X (2)Pi(32) transition shows partially resolved hyperfine structure that was caused by the interaction of unpaired electron with the magnetic moment of the Br nucleus (nuclear spin of I=32) in the excited state. The rapid decrease in hyperfine width as J increases suggests that the hyperfine coupling in the excited state conforms to Hund's case (a(beta)) coupling scheme.     

Doubly excited 2 1Delta g state of Na2

The doubly excited valence (3p+3p) 2 (1)Delta(g) state of Na(2) is experimentally observed by using optical-optical double resonance spectroscopy. A single line Ar(+) laser (a total of nine lines) was used to pump the sodium dimers from thermally populated ground state X (1)Sigma(g) (+) to the intermediate B (1)Pi(u) state. Then, a single mode Ti:sapphire laser was used to probe the doubly excited 2 (1)Delta(g) state. Violet fluorescence emitted from the highly excited states (mainly 2 (3)Pi(g) or 3 (3)Pi(g) states which are transferred from 2 (1)Delta(g) state via collision) to the a (3)Sigma(u) (+) state was monitored by a filtered photomultiplier tube (PMT). A total of 582 rovibrational levels of 2 (1)Delta(g) state were observed, identified, and assigned to the vibrational and rotational quantum numbers in the range of 0< or =v< or =28 and 11< or =J< or =99, respectively. The absolute vibrational quantum number assignment was verified by comparing the totally resolved fluorescence with the calculated Franck-Condon factors between 2 (1)Delta(g) state and B (1)Pi(u) state. Dunham coefficients and Rydberg-Klein-Rees potential curve were derived from these observed quantum levels. The primary molecular constants of Na(2) 2 (1)Delta(g) state are T(e)=32 416.759(15) cm(-1), omega(e)=124.8484(36) cm(-1), B(e)=0.119 158(3) cm(-1), and R(e)=3.508 20(5) A.     

Ab initio investigation of the ground and low-lying states of the diatomic fluorides TiF, VF, CrF, and MnF

The electronic structure of the ground and low-lying states of the diatomic fluorides TiF, VF, CrF, and MnF was examined by multireference and coupled cluster methods in conjunction with extended basis sets. For a total of 34 states we report binding energies, spectroscopic constants, dipole moments, separation energies, and charge distributions. In addition, for all states we have constructed full potential curves. The suggested ground state binding energies of TiF(X (4)Phi), VF(X (5)Pi), CrF(X (6)Sigma(+)), and MnF(X (7)Sigma(+)) are 135, 130, 110, and 108 kcal/mol, respectively, with first excited states A (4)Sigma(-), A (5)Delta, A (6)Pi, and a (5)Sigma(+) about 2, 3, 23, and 19 kcal/mol higher. In essence all our numerical findings are in harmony with experimental results. For all molecules and states studied it is clear that the in situ metal atom (M) shows highly ionic character, therefore the binding is described realistically by M(+)F(-).     

Observation of L uncoupling in the 5 1Deltag Rydberg state of Na2

The phenomenon of electronic orbital angular momentum L uncoupled from its internuclear axis has been observed in the sodium dimer using high-resolution cw optical-optical double-resonance spectroscopy. When L uncoupling occurs, the degeneracy of Lambda doubling is removed. In our experiment, the intermediate B (1)Pi(u) state of Na(2) is excited from the thermally populated ground X (1)Sigma(g) (+) state by a single-line Ar(+) laser. Then, a single-mode dye laser is used to probe the Rydberg states from the intermediate state. The signals are detected by monitoring the UV fluorescence from the triplet gerade states back to the a (3)Sigma(u) (+) state via collision energy transfer. Under our experimental resolution, the splitting of Lambda doubling in the 5 (1)Delta(g) state of Na(2) can be measured. A total of 136 rovibronic levels with ef parities have been assigned to the 5 (1)Delta(g) state. The Lambda-splitting constants deduced from these data are q(0)=0.376(90)x10(-4) cm(-1), q(v)=0.114(6)x10(-4) cm(-1), and mu=0.76(33)x10(-8) cm(-1). In general, the Lambda splitting of the Delta states is considerably smaller than that of the Pi states. However, the first-order splitting constants q(0) and q(v) reported here are larger than those in the B (1)Pi(u) state. This is due to the L uncoupling of the Rydberg states.     

Insight into the Rydberg states of CH

Ab initio electronic structure calculations of a relatively large number of Rydberg states of the CH radical were carried out employing the multireference single and double excitation configuration interaction (MRD-CI) method. A Gaussian basis set of cc-pV5Z quality augmented with 12 diffuse functions was used together with an extensive treatment of electron correlation. The main focus of this contribution is to investigate the 3d Rydberg complex assigned by Watson [Astrophys. J. 555, 472 (2001)] to three unidentified interstellar bands. The authors' calculations reproduce quite well the absolute excitation energies of the three components of the 3d complex, i.e., 2Sigma+(3dsigma), 2Pi(3dpi), and 2Delta(3ddelta), but not the energy ordering inferred from a rotational assignment of the 3d<--X 2Pi laboratory spectrum. The computation of the 4d complex is reported for the first time along with a number of other higher lying Rydberg species with an X 1Sigma+ core. The lowest Rydberg states belonging to series converging to the a 3Pi and A 1Pi excited states of CH+ are also calculated.     

A dispersed fluorescence and ab initio investigation of the X2B1 and A2A1 electronic states of the PH2 molecule

In this work, the X2B1 and A2A1 electronic states of the phosphino (PH2) free radical have been studied by dispersed fluorescence and ab initio methods. PH2 molecules were produced in a molecular free-jet apparatus by laser vaporizing a silicon rod in the presence of phosphine (PH3) gas diluted in helium. The laser-induced fluorescence, from the excited A2A1 electronic state down to the ground electronic state, was dispersed and analyzed. Ten (upsilon1upsilon2upsilon3) vibrationally excited levels of the ground electronic state, with upsilon1 < or = 2, upsilon2 < or = 6, and upsilon3 = 0, have been observed. Ab initio potential-energy surfaces for the X2B1 and A2A1 electronic states have been calculated at 210 points. These two states correlate with a 2Pi(u) state at linearity and they interact by the Renner-Teller coupling and spin-orbit coupling. Using the ab initio potential-energy surfaces with our RENNER computer program system, the vibronic structure and relative intensities of the A2A1 --> X2B1 emission band system have been calculated in order to corroborate the experimental assignments.     

The low-lying electronic excited states of NiCO

Highly correlated coupled cluster methods with single and double excitations (CSSD) and CCSD with perturbative triple excitations were used to predict molecular structures and harmonic vibrational frequencies for the electronic ground state X 1Sigma+, and for the 3Delta, 3Sigma+, 3Phi, 1 3Pi, 2 3Pi, 1Sigma+, 1Delta, and 1Pi excited states of NiCO. The X 1Sigma+ ground state's geometry is for the first time compared with the recently determined experimental structure. The adiabatic excitation energies, vertical excitation energies, and dissociation energies of these excited states are predicted. The importance of pi and sigma bonding for the Ni-C bond is discussed based on the structures of excited states.     

Low-lying electronic states of FeNC and FeCN: a theoretical journey into isomerization and quartet/sextet competition

With several levels of multireference and restricted open-shell single-reference electronic structure theory, optimum structures, relative energetics, and spectroscopic properties of the low-lying (6)Delta, (6)Pi, (4)Delta, (4)Pi, and (4)Sigma(-) states of linear FeNC and FeCN have been investigated using five contracted Gaussian basis sets ranging from Fe[10s8p3d], C/N[4s2p1d] to Fe[6s8p6d3f2g1h], C/N[6s5p4d3f2g]. Based on multireference configuration interaction (MRCISD+Q) results with a correlation-consistent polarized valence quadruple-zeta (cc-pVQZ) basis set, appended with core correlation and relativistic corrections, we propose the relative energies: T(e)(FeNC), (6)Delta(0)<(6)Pi (2300 cm(-1))<(4)Delta (2700 cm(-1))<(4)Pi (4200 cm(-1))<(4)Sigma(-); and T(e)(FeCN), (6)Delta(0)<(6)Pi (1800 cm(-1))<(4)Delta (2500 cm(-1))<(4)Pi (2900 cm(-1))<(4)Sigma(-). The (4)Delta and (4)Pi states have massive multireference character, arising mostly from 11sigma-->12sigma promotions, whereas the sextet states are dominated by single electronic configurations. The single-reference CCSDT-3 (coupled cluster singles and doubles with iterative partial triples) method appears to significantly overshoot the stabilization of the quartet states provided by both static and dynamical correlation. The (4,6)Delta and (4,6)Pi states of both isomers are rather ionic, and all have dipole moments near 5 D. On the ground (6)Delta surface, FeNC is predicted to lie 0.6 kcal mol(-1) below FeCN, and the classical barrier for isocyanide/cyanide isomerization is about 6.5 kcal mol(-1). Our data support the recent spectroscopic characterization by Lei and Dagdigian [J. Chem. Phys. 114, 2137 (2000)] of linear (6)Delta FeNC as the first experimentally observed transition-metal monoisocyanide. Their assignments for the ground term symbol, isotopomeric rotational constants, and the Fe-N omega(3) stretching frequency are confirmed; however, we find rather different structural parameters for (6)Delta FeNC:r(e)(Fe-N)=1.940 A and r(N-C)=1.182 A at the cc-pVQZ MRCISD+Q level. Our results also reveal that the observed band of FeNC originating at 27 236 cm(-1) should have an analog in FeCN near 23 800 cm(-1) of almost equal intensity. Therefore, both thermodynamic stability and absorption intensity factors favor the eventual observation of FeCN via a (6)Pi<--(6)Delta transition in the near-UV.     

A theoretical study of the fine and hyperfine interactions in the NCO and CNO radicals

The geometries, the harmonic vibrational frequencies, and the Renner-Teller parameter have been reported for the NCO(+)(X (3)Sigma(-)), NCO(X (2)Pi,A (2)Sigma(+),B (2)Pi,2 (2)Sigma(+)), NCO(-)(X (1)Sigma(+)), CNO(+)(X), CNO(X (2)Pi,A (2)Sigma(+),B (2)Pi,2 (2)Sigma(+)), and CNO(-)(X (1)Sigma(+)) systems at the full valence-complete active space self-consistent-field (fv-CASSCF) level of theory. The (2)Pi electronic states of the NCO and CNO radicals have two distinct real vibrational frequencies for the bending modes and these states are subject to the type A Renner-Teller effect. The total energy of CNO(+) without zero point energy correction of the linear geometry is approximately 31 cm(-1) higher than the bent geometry at the fv-CASSCF level and the inversion barrier vanishes after the zero point energy correction; therefore, the ground state of the CNO(+) may possess a quasilinear geometry. The spin-orbit coupling constants estimated using atomic mean field Hamiltonian at the fv-CASSCF level of theory are in better agreement with the experimental values. The excitation energies, the electron affinity, and the ionization potential have been computed at the complete active space second order perturbation theory (CASPT2) and the multireference singles and doubles configuration (MRSD-CI) levels of theory. The computed values of the electric hyperfine coupling constants for the (14)N atom in the ground state of the NCO radical agree well with the experimental data. The magnetic hyperfine coupling constants (HFCC's) have been estimated employing the configuration selected MRSD-CI and the multireference singles configuration interaction (MRS-CI) methods using iterative natural orbitals (ino) as one particle basis. Sufficiently accurate value of the isotropic contribution to the HFCC's can be obtained using an MRS-CI-ino procedure.     

Low-lying electronic states of the Ti2 dimer: electronic absorption spectroscopy in rare gas matrices in concert with quantum chemical calculations

Absorption spectra were measured for Ti2 in Ne and Ar matrices. The spectra give evidence for several electronic transitions in the region between 4000 and 10 000 cm(-1) and provide important information about some excited electronic states of Ti2 in proximity to the ground state. The vibrational fine structure measured for these transitions allowed to calculate the force constants and the anharmonicity of the potential energy curves of the excited states, and to estimate changes in the internuclear Ti-Ti distances relative to the electronic ground state. The quantum chemical studies confirm the previously suggested (3)Delta(g) state as the ground state of Ti2. The equilibrium bond distance is calculated to be 195.4 pm. The calculated harmonic frequency of 432 cm(-1) is in good agreement with the experimental value of 407.0 cm(-1). With the aid of the calculations it was possible to assign the experimentally observed transitions in the region between 4000 and 10 000 cm(-1) to the 1 (3)Pi(u)<--(3)Delta(g), 1 (3)Phi(u)<--(3)Delta(g), 2 (3)Pi(u)<--(3)Delta(g), 2 (3)Phi(u)<--(3)Delta(g), and (3)Delta(u)<--(3)Delta(g) excitations (in the order of increasing energy). The calculated relative energies and harmonic frequencies are in pleasing agreement with the experimentally obtained values, with deviations of less than 5% and 2%, respectively. The bond distances estimated on the basis of the experimental spectra tally satisfactorily with the predictions of our calculations.     

Photoinitiated predissociation of the NO dimer in the region of the second and third NO stretch overtones

Photofragment yield spectra and NO(X(2)Pi(1/2,3/2); v = 1, 2, 3) product vibrational, rotational, and spin-orbit state distributions were measured following NO dimer excitation in the 4000-7400 cm(-1) region in a molecular beam. Photofragment yield spectra were obtained by monitoring NO(X(2)Pi; v = 1, 2, 3) dissociation products via resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization. New bands that include the symmetric nu(1) and asymmetric nu(5) NO stretch modes were observed and assigned as 3nu(5), 2nu(1) + nu(5), nu(1) + 3nu(5), and 3nu(1) + nu(5). Dissociation occurs primarily via Deltav = -1 processes with vibrational energy confined preferentially to one of the two NO fragments. The vibrationally excited fragments are born with less rotational energy than predicted statistically, and fragments formed via Deltav = -2 processes have a higher rotational temperature than those produced via Deltav = -1 processes. The rotational excitation likely derives from the transformation of low-lying bending and torsional vibrational levels in the dimer into product rotational states. The NO spin-orbit state distribution reveals a slight preference for the ground (2)Pi(1/2) state, and in analogy with previous results, it is suggested that the predominant channel is X(2)Pi(1/2) + X(2)Pi(3/2). It is suggested that the long-range potential in the N-N coordinate is the locus of nonadiabatic transitions to electronic states correlating with excited product spin-orbit states. No evidence of direct excitation to electronic states whose vertical energies lie in the investigated energy region is obtained.     

The effects of energy-level resonance on collision-induced electronic energy transfer: CD (A (2)Delta<--> B (2)Sigma(-)) coupling

Pulsed, time- and wavelength-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy has been used to measure rate constants for collision-induced electronic energy transfer (EET) between the A (2)Delta and B (2)Sigma(-) states of the CD radical. EET rate constants in the exothermic direction from B (2)Sigma(-), v = 0 to the unresolved A (2)Delta, v = 0 and 1 levels span the range 0.1-2.4 x 10(-11) cm(3) s(-1) at room temperature (ca. 295 K) for the partners He, Ar, N(2), CO and CO(2). H(2) was also investigated, but was unsuitable for further study because of its rapid isotope exchange with CD(X (2)Pi). As expected, only CO results in a significant rate of removal on any distinct, unobserved channel, presumed to be chemical reaction. The efficient A (2)Delta, v = 1 --> 0 vibrational relaxation by CO(2) observed previously for CH was not found for CD. Despite the significant differences in their detailed rovibronic level structures, the overall efficiency of EET in CD was found to be very similar to that for CH. The positive correlation in a Parmenter-Seaver plot appears to confirm a role for long-range attractive forces in the EET process. However, the detailed deviations from this overall trend found reproducibly for CD and CH suggests that partner-specific interactions are also important.     

Reaction dynamics of Y + O2--> YO(X,A',A)+ O(3P(J)) studied by the crossed-beam technique

The dynamics of the reaction, Y + O2--> YO + O was studied by using the crossed-beam technique at several collision energies from 10.3 to 52.0 kJ mol(-1). The Y atomic beam was generated by laser vaporization and crossed with the O2 beam at a right angle. Among the energetically accessible electronic states of YO, the formation of the A2Pi and A'2Delta states was observed by their chemiluminescence at all collision energies. By analyzing the chemiluminescence spectra of YO(A2Pi(1/2,3/2)-X2Sigma+), vibrational state distributions and relative populations of spin-orbit states were determined for YO(A2Pi(1/2,3/2)). At low collision energies, the vibrational distributions agree quite well with those expected from the statistical energy partitioning, while a little deviation from the statistical expectation was observed at the highest energy, 52.0 kJ mol(-1). The populations of two spin-orbit states are in good agreement with the statistical expectations at all collision energies. The vacuum ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence (VUV-LIF) technique was employed to determine the distributions of spin-orbit states of the product O(3P(J)) at two collision energies, 20.7 and 52.0 kJ mol(-1). The line shapes of the O atom transitions were analyzed to determine relative branching ratio of the ground state to the excited states of YO, i.e. YO(X2Sigma+)+ O(3P(J))vs. YO(A2Pi and A'2Delta)+ O(3P(J)). The results showed that the electronically excited YO was formed with comparable amount with the ground state which is statistically more favorable, and suggested the occurrence of two mechanisms taking place in the title reaction.