Communication: state-to-state quantum dynamics study of the OH + CO → H + CO2 reaction in full dimensions (J = 0)

A full dimensional state-to-state quantum dynamics study is carried out for the prototypical complex-formation OH + CO → H + CO(2) reaction in the ground rovibrational initial state on the Lakin-Troya-Schatz-Harding potential energy surface by using the reactant-product decoupling method. With three heavy atoms and deep wells on the reaction path, the reaction represents a huge challenge for accurate quantum dynamics study. This state-to-state calculation is the first such a study on a four-atom reaction other than the H(2) + OH ? H(2)O + H and its isotope analogies. The product CO(2) vibrational and rotational state distributions, and product energy partitioning information are presented for ground initial rovibrational state with the total angular momentum J = 0.     

Product rotational angular momentum polarization in the H+FCl(v=0-5, j=0, 3, 6, 9)→HF+Cl reaction

The product alignment and orientation of the title reaction on the ground potential energy surface of 1 (2)A' have been studied using the quasi-classical trajectory method. The calculations were carried out for case (a) at collision energies of 0.5-20 kcal mol(-1) with the initially rovibrational state of the reagent FCl molecule being at the v = 0 and j = 0 level to especially reveal in detail the dependence of the product integral cross section on collision energy. Further calculations at the collision energy of 15 kcal mol(-1) for case (b) at v = 0-5, and j = 0, and (c) at v = 0, and j = 3, 6, 9 initial states were carried out to reveal the effect of initially vibrational and rotational excitations on stereodynamics, respectively. Possessing final relative velocity k' (defined as a vector in the xz-plane), product alignment perpendicular to the reagent relative velocity vector k (defined as z- or parallel to the z-axis), for case (a) is found to be weaker at all collision energies, for case (b) is found to be vibrationally enhanced by the reactant molecule FCl, but for case (c), rather insensitive to initially rotational excitation. The rotational vector of product molecular orientation pointing to either negative or positive direction of the y-axis in the center of mass frame, e.g. origin of the coordinate system, is enhanced by collision energies regarding to 0.5-20 kcal mol(-1), while it becomes weaker at higher vibrational (v = 0-5) or rotational (j = 0, 3, 6, 9) excitation levels. Effects of collision energies and of rotational excitation at these collision energies, with 15 kcal mol(-1) as an example on the calculated PDDCSs are also shown and discussed. Detailed plots P(φ(r)) in the range of 0 ≤φ(r)≤ 360(o), and P(θ(r), φ(r)) in the ranges of 0 ≤θ(r)≤ 180° and 0 ≤φ(r)≤ 360° at collision energies 0.5-20 kcal mol(-1) have been presented. Overall, results of PDDCSs of the product alignment and product orientation at these collision energies in the title reaction are not very strongly distinguishable.     

Lif study of the I2+F → IF+I reaction: population of the v' = 0 level of IF

We have attempted to detect the v' =0 level in IF molecules produced by the reactive collision I₂+F → IF+I under crossed-beam conditions. The signal that we have observed is shown to be due to a background IF vapour. This is an important result as it settles a controversy concerning the energy disposal in this reaction.     

The gas-phase and solution mechanism of the isotope exchange reaction OH- + D2 = OD- + HD: Beam study of the solvated-ion reaction OH-. H2O + D2 in the collision energy range 0–2 eV

In a tandem mass spectrometer we have measured the excitation functions (reaction cross section as a function of collision energy) for the following solvated-ion reactant pairs: OH^-.(H₂O) + H₂; OD^-.(D₂O) + D₂; and OH^-.(H₂O) + D₂—in the collision energy range 0–2 eV. Product channels include H₃O^--type production, collision-induced dissociation of reactants and products (OH^- and H^- types) and isotopic mixing. These solvated-ion reactions are used to correlate the reactivity of the isotope exchange reaction OH^- + D₂→OD^- + HD occuring in the gas phase and solution, identifying a proton-transfer mechanism occuring within an H₃O^- intermediate.     

Semiclassical glory analyses in the time domain for the H + D2(v(i) = 0, j(i) = 0) → HD(v(f) = 3, j(f) = 0) + D reaction

We make the first application of semiclassical (SC) techniques to the plane-wavepacket formulation of time-domain (T-domain) scattering. The angular scattering of the state-to-state reaction, H + D(2)(v(i) = 0, j(i) = 0) → HD(v(f) = 3, j(f) = 0) + D, is analysed, where v and j are vibrational and rotational quantum numbers, respectively. It is proved that the forward-angle scattering in the T-domain, which arises from a delayed mechanism, is an example of a glory. The SC techniques used in the T-domain are: An integral transitional approximation, a semiclassical transitional approximation, a uniform semiclassical approximation (USA), a primitive semiclassical approximation and a classical semiclassical approximation. Nearside-farside (NF) scattering theory is also employed, both partial wave and SC, since a NF analysis provides valuable insights into oscillatory structures present in the full scattering pattern. In addition, we incorporate techniques into the SC theory called "one linear fit" and "two linear fits", which allow the derivative of the quantum deflection function, Θ?(')(J), to be estimated when Θ?J exhibits undulations as a function of J, the total angular momentum variable. The input to our SC analyses is numerical scattering (S) matrix data, calculated from accurate quantum collisional calculations for the Boothroyd-Keogh-Martin-Peterson potential energy surface No. 2, in the energy domain (E-domain), from which accurate S matrix elements in the T-domain are generated. In the E-domain, we introduce a new technique, called "T-to-E domain SC analysis." It half-Fourier transforms the E-domain accurate quantum scattering amplitude to the T-domain, where we carry out a SC analysis; this is followed by an inverse half-Fourier transform of the T-domain SC scattering amplitude back to the E-domain. We demonstrate that T-to-E USA differential cross sections (DCSs) agree well with exact quantum DCSs at forward angles, for energies where a direct USA analysis in the E-domain fails.     

Density functional theoretical study of A series of pentazolide compounds \hbox{A}_{\it n}(\hbox{N}_5)_{\rm 6-{\it n}}^{\it q} (A = B, Al, Si, P, and S; n = 1–3; q = +1, 0, −1, −2, and −3)

The structure and the stability of pentazolide compounds $\hbox{A}_{\it n}(\hbox{N}_5)_{\rm 6-{\it n}}^{\it q}$ (A = B, Al, Si, P, and S; n= 1–3; q = +1, 0, ?1, ?2, and ?3), as high energy-density materials (HEDMs), have been investigated at the B3LYP/6-311+G* level of theory. The natural bond orbital analysis shows that the charge transfer plays an important role when the $\hbox{A}_{\it n}(\hbox{N}_5)_{\rm 6-{\it n}}^{\it q}$ species are decomposed to $\hbox{A}_{\it n}(\hbox{N}_5)_{\rm 5-{\it n}}\hbox{N}_3^{\it q}$ and N₂. The more negative charges are transferred from the N₂ molecule after breaking the N₅ ring, the more stable the systems are with respect to the decomposition. Moreover, the conclusion can be drawn that ${\hbox{Al}(\hbox{N}_5)_5^{2-}}$ and ${\hbox{Al}_2(\hbox{N}_5)_4^{2-}}$ are predicted to be suitable as potential HEDMs.     

Angular scattering using parameterized S matrix elements for the H + D2(v(i) = 0, j(i) = 0) → HD(v(f) = 3, j(f) = 0) + D reaction: an example of Heisenberg's S matrix programme

A neglected topic in the theory of reactive scattering is the use of parameterized scattering (S) matrix elements to calculate differential cross sections (DCSs). We construct four simple parameterizations, whose moduli are smooth step-functions and whose phases are quadratic functions of the total angular momentum quantum number. Application is made to forward glory scattering in the DCS of the H + D(2)(v(i) = 0, j(i) = 0) → HD(v(f) = 3, j(f) = 0) + D reaction at a translational energy of 1.81 eV, where v and j are vibrational and rotational quantum numbers respectively. The parameterized S matrix elements can reproduce the forward scattering for centre-of-mass reactive scattering angles up to 30° and can identify the total angular momenta (equivalently, impact parameters) that contribute to the glory. The theoretical techniques employed to analyze structure in the DCS include: nearside-farside theory, local angular momentum theory--in both cases incorporating resummations of the partial wave series representation of the scattering amplitude--and the uniform semiclassical theory of forward glory scattering. Our approach is an example of Heisenberg's S matrix programme, in which no potential energy surface is used. Our calculations for the DCS using the four parameterized S matrix elements are counterexamples to the following universal statements often found in the chemical physics literature: "every molecular scattering investigation needs detailed information about the interaction potential," and "an accurate potential energy surface is an essential element in carrying out simulations of a chemical reaction". Both these statements are false.