O‐loss photodissociation of the OCS+ ion in the low‐lying electronic states studied using multiconfiguration second‐order perturbation theory

The CASPT2 potential energy curves (PECs) for O‐loss dissociation from the X²Π, A²Π, B²Σ⁺, C²Σ⁺, 1⁴Σ^?, 1²Σ^?, and 1⁴Π states of the OCS⁺ ion were calculated. The PEC calculations indicate that X²Π, 1⁴Σ^?, 1²Σ^?, and 1⁴Π correlate with CS⁺(X²Σ⁺) + O(³P_g); A²Π and B²Σ⁺ correlate with CS⁺(A²Π) + O(³P_g); and C²Σ⁺ probably correlates with CS⁺(X²Σ⁺) + O(¹D_g). The CASSCF minimum energy crossing point (MECP) calculations were performed for the C²Σ⁺/1⁴Σ^?, C²Σ⁺/1⁴Π, A²Π/1⁴Σ^?, A²Π/1²Σ^?, A²Π/1⁴Π, and B²Σ⁺/1²Σ^? state pairs and the spin‐obit couplings were calculated at the located MECPs. A conical intersection point between the B²Σ⁺ and C²Σ⁺ potential energy surfaces was found at the CASSCF level. Based on our calculations, seven O‐loss predissociation processes of the C²Σ⁺ state are suggested and an appearance potential value of 7.13 eV for the CS⁺ + O product group is predicted. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

The energy balance and branching ratios associated with the chemiluminescent reaction Si(3P) + N2O(1Σ) → SiO*(a3Σ+, b3Π, A1Π) + N2(υ″ ⩾ 5) — possible formation of vibrationally excited N2

Silicon atoms react under single collision conditions with N₂O to yield chemiluminescent emission corresponding to the SiO a³Σ⁺?X¹Σ⁺ and b³Π?X¹Σ⁺ intercombination systems and the A¹Π?X¹Σ⁺ band system. A most striking feature of the SiN₂O reaction is the energy balance associated with the formation of SiO product molecules in the A¹Π and b³Π states. A significant energy discrepancy ( = 10000 cm^? = 1.24 eV) is found between the available energy to populate the highest energetically accessible excited-state quantum levels and the highest quantum level from which emission is observed. It is suggested that this discrepancy may result from the formation of vibrationally excited N₂ in a concerted fast SiN₂O reactive encounter. Emission from the SiO a³Σ⁺ (A¹Π) and b³Π(A¹Π, E¹Σ₀⁺) triplet-state manifold results primarily from intensity borrowing involving the indicated singlet states. Perturbation calculations indicate the magnitude of the mixing between the b³Π, A¹Π and E¹Σ₀⁺ states ranges between 0.5 and 2%. On the basis of these calculations, the branching ratio (excited triplet)/(excited singlet) is found to be well in excess of 500. An approximate vibrational population distribution is deduced for those molecules formed in the b³Π state. The present studies are correlated with those of previous workers in order to provide an explanation for diverse relaxation effects as well as observed changes in the ratio of a³Σ⁺ to b³Π emission as a function of pressure and experimental environment. Some of these effects are attributable to a strong coupling between the a³Σ⁺ and b³Π state. Based on the current results, there appears to be little correlation between either (1) the branching ratio for excited state formation or (2) the total absolute cross section for excited-state formation and (3) the measured quantum yield for the SiN₂O reaction. Implications for chemical laser development are considered.     

Theoretical study of spectroscopic and molecular properties of several low‐lying electronic states of CO molecule

The potential energy curves (PECs) of eight low‐lying electronic states (X¹Σ⁺, a³Π, a′³Σ⁺, d³Δ, e³Σ^?, A¹Π, I¹Σ^?, and D¹Δ) of the carbon monoxide molecule have been studied by an ab initio quantum chemical method. The calculations have been performed using the complete active space self‐consistent field method, which is followed by the valence internally contracted multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) approach in combination with the correlation‐consistent aug‐cc‐pV5Z basis set. The effects on the PECs by the core‐valence correlation and relativistic corrections are included. The way to consider the relativistic corrections is to use the third‐order Douglas–Kroll Hamiltonian approximation at the level of a cc‐pV5Z basis set. Core‐valence correlation corrections are performed using the cc‐pCVQZ basis set. To obtain more reliable results, the PECs determined by the MRCI calculations are corrected for size‐extensivity errors by means of the Davidson modification (MRCI+Q). The spectroscopic parameters (D_e, T_e, R_e, ω_e, ω_ex_e, ω_ey_e, B_e, α_e, and γ_e) of these electronic states are calculated using these PECs. The spectroscopic parameters are compared with those reported in the literature. Using the Breit–Pauli operator, the spin–orbit coupling effect on the spectroscopic parameters is discussed for the a³Π electronic state. With the PECs obtained by the MRCI+Q/aug‐cc‐pV5Z+CV+DK calculations, the complete vibrational states of each electronic state have been determined. The vibrational manifolds have been calculated for each vibrational state of each electronic state. The vibrational level G(ν), inertial rotation constant B_ν, and centrifugal distortion constant D_ν of the first 20 vibrational states when the rotational quantum number J equals zero are reported and compared with the experimental data. Comparison with the measurements demonstrates that the present spectroscopic parameters and molecular constants determined by the MRCI+Q/aug‐cc‐pV5Z+CV+DK calculations are both reliable and accurate. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Luminescence in near-thermal charge exchange. II. He+ + H2O and He+ + D2O

An ICR spectrometer fitted with synchronous photon counting equipment is used to study the emission produced by near-thermal (? 0.1 eV) collisions between He⁺ and H₂O (D₂). Within the investigated wavelength region, 185 to 500 nm, the only significant emission features are the A³Π (υ' ? 3) → X³Σ^? bands in OH⁺ and OD⁺, and the A²Σ⁺ → X²Π(0.0) band in OH and, possibly, in OD. The corresponding excitation rate constants represent only ? 2% of the total He⁺/H₂O (D₂O) charge transfer. The resonant electron-jump model for thermal-energy charge exchange is discussed in the light of recent information on the He⁺/H₂O reaction and on the excited states of H₂O⁺ and their excitation by electron and photon impact on H₂O (D₂O).     

Spectroscopic parameter and molecular constant investigations for low‐lying electronic states of P ion

The potential energy curves (PECs) of three low‐lying electronic states of P ion, X²Π_u, A²Σ, and B²Σ, have been studied using the full valence complete active space self‐consistent field method followed by the highly accurate valence internally contracted multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) approach and MRCI with Davidson correction (+Q). The correlation‐consistent basis sets, aug‐cc‐pV5Z and aug‐cc‐pV6Z, are used and the total energies are extrapolated to the complete basis set limit. Using these PECs obtained with the MRCI+Q/56‐extrapolation, the spectroscopic parameters for these electronic states are determined and compared in detail with experimental data and those of previous studies reported in the literature. The comparison shows that excellent agreement exists between the present results and the available experiments. The first 40 vibrational states for the three electronic states are also computed when the rotational quantum number J equals zero. For each vibrational state, the vibrational level G(υ), inertial rotation constant B_υ, and centrifugal distortion constant D_υ are determined when J = 0, which are in good accord with the available measurements. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Theoretical spectroscopy and metastability of BeS and its cation

Multiconfiguration self-consistent field and multiconfiguration reference interaction including the Davidson’s correction techniques were employed to calculate the potential energy curves (PECs) of the BeS/BeS⁺ electronic states correlating to the 4/5 lowest dissociation limits. After nuclear motion treatment, we deduced reliable spectroscopic data for the neutral and cationic bound states. For BeS, the transition moments and spin-orbit couplings were also evaluated and used later with the PECs to deduce the rovibronic transition probabilities and the radiative lifetimes in the low-lying states, and to investigate the unimolecular decomposition processes of BeS (X¹Σ⁺, A¹Π, ³Σ⁺ and B¹Σ⁺) leading to Be(¹S_g) + S(³P_g). The prominent mechanism is a spin-orbit induced predissociation via the repulsive BeS(1³Σ⁻) state. Finally, we give the single ionization spectrum of BeS (X¹Σ⁺) populating the BeS⁺ (X²Π, 1²Σ⁻, 1²Σ⁺, 1²Δ, 2²Σ⁺, 2²Π and 3²Π) electronic states. The adiabatic ionisation energy of BeS is estimated to be ∼9.15 eV.     

Theoretical study of electronic structure of rhodium mononitride and interpretation of experimental spectra

Potential energy curves of 22 electronic states of RhN have been calculated by the complete active space second‐order perturbation theory method. The X¹Σ₀⁺ is assigned as the ground state, and the first excited state a³Π₀+ is 978 cm^?1 higher. The ¹Δ(I) and B¹Σ⁺ states are located at 9521 and 13,046 cm^?1 above the ground state, respectively. The B¹Σ⁺ state should be the excited state located 12,300 cm^?1 above the ground state in the experimental study. Moreover, two excited states, C¹Π and b³Σ⁺, are found 14,963 and 15,082 cm^?1 above the X¹Σ⁺ state, respectively. The transition C¹Π₁–X¹Σ₀⁺ may contribute to the experimentally observed bands headed at 15,071 cm^?1. There are two excited states, D¹Δ and E¹Σ⁺, situate at 20,715 and 23,145 cm^?1 above the X¹Σ⁺ state. The visible bands near 20,000 cm^?1 could be generated by the electronic transitions D¹Δ₂–a³Π₁ and E¹Σ⁺₀–X¹Σ⁺₀ because of the spin–orbit coupling effect. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Estimation of a priori errors in ab initio calculations of thermochemical values for the example of the dissociation energies of the ZnO and ZnS molecules

The total energies of ZnO(¹Σ), ZnO(³Π), ZnO^?(²Σ), ZnO⁺(²Σ), ZnS(¹Σ), ZnS(³Π), ZnS^?(²Σ), and ZnS⁺(²Σ) were calculated ab initio by the CCSD(T) method with the use of atomic basis sets including 80, 84, and 93 functions for O, S, and Zn, respectively. Similar calculations were performed for the Zn atom [Zn(¹ S), Zn(³ P), Zn⁺(² S), Zn²⁺(¹ S)] and several oxygen and sulfur states [O(³ P), O^?(² S), O(¹ D), O₂(³Σ), O ₂ ^? (²Π), O₂(¹Δ), S(³ P), S^?(² S), S(¹ D), S₂(³Σ), S ₂ ^? (²Π), and S₂(¹Δ)]. The ideology of engagement groups suggested by us is considered. According to this approach, data treatment can be performed on the assumption that the errors in all the 24 results obey the normal distribution law. As a result, we obtained D _e(ZnO) = 1.70 ± 0.21 and D _e(ZnS) = 1.57 ± 0.25 eV (at a 95% confidence level).     

Interference effects in 1<Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis> → π* resonance excitation processes of the no molecule

A ¹Π → X ¹Σ⁺ fluorescence in the NO⁺ molecular ion observed after Auger decay of the 1s ^?1 π* resonances of the N*O molecule and NO* was studied theoretically. The energies and probabilities of the transition between the vibrational levels of the electronic states, determining the excitation and Auger decay of the resonances of the nitrogen monoxide molecule and further radiation-induced decay of the NO⁺ molecular ion were calculated by the first principles method. Multiplet splitting of the resonances of N*O and NO* and interference of the amplitudes of excitation of the molecule through various vibrational levels of the intermediate resonance explain the observed dependences of the intensity of A ¹Π(υ′) → X ¹Σ⁺(υ″) fluorescence on the excitation radiation energy. The discrepancies between the calculated and experimental integrated intensities of fluorescence point to the necessity of studying cascade processes determined by radiation transitions in NO⁺, including dipole transitions with a changed net spin.     

Calculation of the potential energy curves for the low-lying doublet and quartet states of the CN radical

The potential energy curves of the low-lying X²Σ⁺, A²π_i, B²Σ⁺,⁴Σ⁺, and ⁴π states of CN are calculated by the MC SCF (CAS SCF) method. Their vibrational levels and the molecular constants obtained are in good agreement with those determined in our recent experimental analysis of the CN (B²Σ⁺-X²Σ⁺) emission spectrum. several intensity anomalies in the observed spectrum are ascribed to perturbations between the B²Σ⁺ and ⁴π states with the following vibrational quantum numbers: (υ_B, υ_π)=(9,x), (11, x+2), (12, x+3), (14, x+6), (17, x+11), and (18, x+13), where x = 0 is the most probable assignment. Likewise, the perturbations between the B²Σ⁺ and ⁴Σ⁺ states with (υ_B, υ_Σ) = (11, y), (13, y+3) are interpreted as y = 8±1.     

Rotational predissociation of HeH+: The effect of nuclear motion on ro-vibrational energies and widths

The approximate diagonal nuclear-motion correction for the X¹Σ⁺ state of HeH⁺ is calculated at selected points on the internuclear axis. The energies (E_υJ) and widthis (Γ_υJ) of the quasibound rotational-vibrational states of ⁴HeH⁺, ³HeH⁺, ⁴ HeD⁺ and ³HeD⁺ in the electronic ground state are calculated in the Born—Oppenheimer approximation using a discrete-states method. The E_υJ and Γ_υJ, corrected approximately for the effects of nuclear motion, are also evaluated.     

Investigation of the molecular chemiluminescence SrCl(A2Π1/2,3/2, B2Σ+ → X2Σ+) and the atomic resonance fluorescence Sr(53P1 → 51S0) in the time-domain following the pulsed dye laser generation of Sr(53 PJ) in the presence of CH2Cl2

Time-resolved investigations of the atomic resonance fluorescence Sr(5³P₁ → 5¹S₀) and the molecular chemiluminescence from SrCl(A²Π_1/2,3/2, B²Σ⁺ → X²Σ⁺) are reported following the reaction of the electronically excited strontium atom, Sr(5s5p(³P_J)), 1.807 eV above its 5s²(¹S₀) electronic ground state, with CH₂Cl₂. The optically metastable strontium atom was generated by pulsed dye-laser excitation of ground state strontium vapor to the Sr(5³P₁) state at λ = 689.3 nm (Sr(5³P₁ ← 5¹S₀)) at elevated temperature (850 K) in the presence of excess helium buffer gas in which rapid Boltzmann equilibration within the 5³P_J manifold takes place. Sr(5³P_J) was then monitored by time-resolved atomic fluorescence from Sr(5³P₁) at the resonance wavelength together with chemiluminescence from electronically excited SrCl resulting from reaction of the excited atom with CH₂Cl₂. The molecular systems recorded in the time-domain were SrCl(A²Π_1/2 → X²Σ⁺) (Δν = 0, λ = 674 nm), SrCl(A²Π_3/2 → X²Σ⁺) (Δν = 0, λ = 660 nm), and SrCl(B²Σ⁺ → X²Σ⁺) (Δν = 0, λ = 636 nm). Both the A²Π (179.0 kJ mol^?1) and (B²Σ⁺(188.0) kJ mol^?1) states of SrCl are energetically accessible on collision between Sr(³P) and CH₂Cl₂. Exponential decay profiles for both the atomic and molecular (A,B – X) chemiluminescence emission are observed and the first-order decay coefficients characterized in each case. These are found to be equal under identical conditions and hence SrCl(A²Π, B²Σ⁺) are shown to arise from direct Cl-atom abstractions on reaction with this halogenated species. The combination of integrated molecular and atomic intensity measurements, coupled with optical sensitivity calibration, yields estimations of the branching ratios into the A_1/2,3/2, B, and X states arising from Sr(5³ P_J) + CH₂Cl₂ which are found to be as follows: A_1/2, 3.0 × 10^?3; A_3/2, 1.7 × 10^?3; B, 4.4 × 10^?4 yielding ΣSrCl(A_1/2 + A_3/2 + B) = 5.1 × 10^?3. As only the X, A and B states of SrCl are accessible on reaction, this indicates an upper limit for the branching ratio into the ground state of 0.995. The present results are compared with previous time-resolved measurements on SrF, Cl, Br(A²Π,B²Σ⁺ ? X²Σ⁺) that we have reported on various halogenated species and with analogous chemiluminescence studies on Sr(³P) with other halides obtained from molecular beam measurements. The results are further compared with those from a series of previous analogous investigations in the time-domain we have presented of molecular emissions from CaF, Cl, Br, I (A,B – X) arising from the collisions of Ca(4³P_J) with appropriate halides and with branching ratio data for Ca(4³P_J) obtained in beam measurements. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Lifetimes of the vibronic Ã2A1 states of H2O+ and of the 3Πi (υ′ = 0) state of OH+

Using the delayed coincidence technique, lifetimes have been measured for some Σ and Π vibronic òA₁ states of H₂O⁺ and for the ³Π_i (υ′ = 0) state of OH⁺ by analysing the decay curves of the òA₁(0, υ′₂, 0) ? X?²B₁ (0, υ″₂, 0) and the ³Π_i(υ′ = 0) ? ³Σ^?(υ″ = 0) emission intensities respectively. The excited molecular ionic states are produced via excitation of H₂O molecules by 200 eV electrons. For H₂O⁺(òA₁) the vibronic Σ levels with υ′₂ = 13 and 15 and the vibronic Π levels with υ′₂ = 12 and 14 have been considered. The radiative lifetimes obtained for these levels have about the same value, namely 10.5(±1) × 10^?6 s. The radiative lifetime for the OH⁺(³Π_iυ′= 0) state is 2.5(±0.3) × 10^?6 s. The lifetimes found in this work for H₂O⁺(òA₁) and OH⁺(³Π_i,υ′= 0) are about ten and three times longer respectively than the corresponding lifetimes given by other investigators [1,2]. The probable reason for this discrepancy is that in the other experiments no attention has been paid to the presence of a large space charge effect. This effect is caused by the positive ions which are created by the primary electron beam.     

Self-consistent potential energy curves for the A1Σ+ and X1Σ+ states of isotopic cesium hydrides

From the spectroscopic experimental data available in the literature we have determined the mass-reduced Dunham coefficients for the A¹Σ⁺ ↔ X¹Σ⁺ system of the isotopic species CsH and CsD. Based upon these results, for both ground and excited states of cesium hydride and deuteride we report new hybrid rotationless potential energy curves (PMO-RKR-van der Waals) up to the dissociation. As a consistency check on the accuracy of the potentials the eigenvalues were calculated by direct numerical integration of the radial Schrödinger equation and found to agree within the rms error 0.39 cm⁻¹ (X¹Σ⁺) and 0.41 cm⁻¹ (A¹Σ⁺) with the experimental vibrational energies. From the wavefunctions, the rotational constants B_υ, centrifugal distortion terms D_υ, H_υ and L_υ, Franck—Condon factors, and probability density distributions were obtained. The probability density distributions for the lowest vibrational levels of the A¹Σ⁺ show an anharmonicity associated with the anomalous behavior of that state.     

Detection of SiF radicals with multiphoton ionization spectroscopy

We report the resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization spectrum of SiF between 430 and 492 nm. SiF radicals absorbed at least three photons to generate the observed m/z 47 SiF ions. Two-photon absorption bands from C″²Σ⁺ ← X ²Π, and C′²Π ← X ²Π, transitions were observed. An intense band from sequential one-photon transitions from the X ²Π_1/2(υ″ = 0) state through the A²Σ⁺ (υ′ = 0) and C″²Σ⁺ (υ′ = 1) states was observed.     

The 6Liz A1Σu+ ∼ b3Πu spin—orbit perturbations: Sub-Doppler spectra and steady state kinetic lineshape model

The ⁶Li₂ A¹Σ_u⁺ υ_A = 2, J = 33 and υ_A = 9, J = 20 levels are shown to be spin—orbit perturbed by the b³Π_u υ_b = 9, F₁e N = 32 and υ_b = 15, F₁e N = 19 levels from which an electronic matrix element of <b³Π_oc|H^SO|A¹Σ⁺ > = 0.114±0.006 cm^?1 is determined. Previous estimates of this quantity are shown to be incorrect. Although the main and extra levels are separated by less than the 900 K Doppler width of A¹Σ_u⁺ ? X¹Σ_g⁺ rotational lines, sub-Doppler intermodulated fluorescence and perturbation-facilitated optical—optical double resonance spectra allow direct observation of the separation of main and extra levels. The mixing coefficients and other perturbation parameters are inferred from a steady state kinetic model of the composite main plus extra lineshape.     

Electronic,spectra, and spin orbit interaction for FrAr van der Waals system

The potential energy curves and spectroscopic constants of the ground and many excited states of the FrAr van der Waals system have been determined using a one‐electron pseudopotential approach. The Fr⁺ core and the electron–Ar interactions are replaced by effective potentials. The Fr⁺Ar core–core interaction is incorporated using the accurate CCSD(T) potential of Hickling et al. (Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2004, 6, 4233). This approach reduces the number of active electrons of the FrAr van der Waals system to only one valence electron, which permits the use of very large basis sets for the Fr and Ar atoms. Using this technique, the potential energy curves of the ground and many excited states are calculated at the self consistent field (SCF) level. In addition, the spin–orbit interaction is also considered using the semiempirical scheme for the states dissociating into Fr (7p) and Fr (8p). The FrAr system is not studied previously and its potential interactions, spectroscopic constants and dipole functions are presented here for the first time. Furthermore, we have predicted the X²Σ⁺–A²Π_1/2, X²Σ⁺–AΠ_3/2, X²Σ⁺–B²Σ_1/2⁺, X²Σ⁺–3²Π_1/2, X²Σ⁺–3²Π_3/2, and X²Σ⁺–5²Σ_1/2⁺ absorption spectra. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

High Resolution Laser Excitation Spectra and Franck-Condon Factors of A2Π-X2Σ+ Electronic Transition of MgF

Magnesium monofluoride (MgF) is proposed as an ideal candidate radical for direct laser cooling. Here, the rotationally resolved laser spectra of MgF for the A²Π-X²Σ⁺ electronic transition system were recorded by using laser induced fluorescence technique. The MgF radicals were produced by discharging SF₆/Ar gas mixtures between the tips of two magnesium needles in a supersonic jet expansion. We recorded a total of 19 vibrational bands belonging to three sequences of Δv=0, ±1 in the region of 348-370 nm. Accurate spectroscopic constants for both X²Σ⁺ and A²Π states are determined from rotational analysis of the experimental spectra. Spectroscopic parameters, including the Franck-Condon factors (FCFs), are determined from the experimental results and the Rydberg-Klein-Rees (RKR) calculations. Significant discrepancies between the experimentally measured and RKR-calculated FCFs are found, indicating that the FCFs are nearly independent of the spin-orbit coupling in the A²Π state. Potential energy curves (PECs) and FCFs determined here provide necessary data for the theoretical simulation of the laser-cooling scheme of MgF.     

Ab initio calculations on low-lying electronic states of PdH

Potential energy curves for the low-lying electronic states of PdH have been calculated using the MRCI method with scalar relativistic and spin-orbit corrections, and all electronic states correlating to the 4d¹⁰ (¹S), 4d⁹ 5s¹ (³D), 4d⁹ 5s¹ (¹D) and 4d⁸ 5s² (³F) states of Pd were included. Potential energy curves for the individual Ω states have been obtained, and the experimentally observed spectra of both PdH and PdD isotopologues have been assigned appropriately based on the ab initio results. Einstein A coefficients were calculated for other possible transitions from the low-lying electronic states to the X²Σ⁺ ground state. Diagonal and off-diagonal matrix elements of the spin-orbit Hamiltonian were calculated for all vibrational levels of the X²Σ⁺, 1²Δ, 1²Π, 2²Σ⁺ and 3²Σ⁺ states, and it was found from the eigenvectors that the vibrational wavefunctions of the 1²Δ_3/2 and 1²Π_3/2 states are mixed significantly in both PdH and PdD isotopologues.