Quadratic response functions in a second-order polarization propagator framework

The linear and quadratic response functions have been derived for an exact state, based on an exponential parametrization of the time evolution consisting of products of exponentials for orbital rotations and for higher-order excitations. Truncating the linear response function such that the response function itself and its pole structure is correct to second order in M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory, we arrive at the second-order polarization propagator approximation (SOPPA). Previous derivations of SOPPA have used the superoperator formalism, making the extension of SOPPA to quadratic and higher order response functions difficult. The derivation of the quadratic response function is described in detail, allowing molecular properties such as hyperpolarizabilities, two-photon cross sections, and excited-state properties to be calculated using the SOPPA model.     

Ab initio calculation of electronic circular dichroism fortrans-cyclooctene using London atomic orbitals

Summary The second-quantization magnetic dipole operator that arises when London atomic orbitals are used as basis functions is derived. In atomic units, the magnetic dipole operator is defined as the negative of the first derivative of the electronic Hamiltonian containing the interaction with the external magnetic field. It is shown that for finite basis sets, the gauge origin dependence of the resulting magnetic dipole operator is analogous to that of the exact operator, and that the derived operator converges to the exact operator in the limit of a complete basis set. It is also demonstrated that the length expression for the rotatory strength in linear response calculations gives gauge-origin-independent results. Sample calculations ontrans-cyclooctene and its fragments are presented. Compared to conventional orbitals, the basis set convergence of the rotatory strengths calculated in the length form using London atomic orbitals is favourable. The rotatory strength calculated fortrans-cyclooctene agrees nicely with the corresponding experimental circular dichroism spectrum, but the spectra for the fragment molecules show little resemblance with that oftrans-cyclooctene.Dedicated to Prof. Jan Linderberg     

Al2O3(1120) surface as a template for the ordered growth of Ni and Co nanoclusters

The morphology and thermal stability of Ni and Co nanoclusters grown by physical vapour deposition on a reconstructed (1120) surface of α-Al(2)O(3) is investigated using non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM). NC-AFM images reveal that the clean α-Al(2)O(3)(1120) substrate adopts a characteristic (12 × 4) reconstruction when prepared in vacuum at high temperature. Subsequent deposition of Ni and Co onto this substrate at room temperature facilitates the growth of well-ordered metal nanocluster arrays with a preferred inter-cluster distance determined by the (12 × 4) periodicity of the substrate surface. The order in the cluster arrangement remains intact even upon annealing the system to temperatures up to 500 °C indicating a high resistance against sintering. The reconstructed α-Al(2)O(3)(1120) surface can, therefore, serve as an appropriate insulating template for studies of size-dependent magnetic or catalytic effects in a well-defined ensemble of metallic nanoclusters.     

Inhibition of Cu-amyloid-β by using bifunctional peptides with β-sheet breaker and chelator moieties

Breaking the mold: Inhibition of toxic amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregates and disruption of Cu-Aβ with subsequent redox-silencing of Cu have been considered promising strategies against Alzheimer's disease. The design and proof of concept of simple peptides containing a Cu-chelating/redox-silencing unit and an Aβ-aggregation inhibition unit (β-sheet breaker) is described (see scheme).     

Stable cation inversion at the MgAl2O4(100) surface

From an interplay of atom-resolved noncontact atomic force microscopy, surface x-ray diffraction experiments, and density functional theory calculations, we reveal the detailed atomic-scale structure of the (100) surface of an insulating ternary metal oxide, MgAl2O4 (spinel). We surprisingly find that the MgAl2O4(100) surface is terminated by an Al and O-rich structure with a thermodynamically favored amount of Al atoms interchanged with Mg. This finding implies that so-called Mg-Al antisites, which are defects in the bulk of MgAl2O4, become a thermodynamically stable and integral part of the surface.