An ab initio molecular orbital study of the electronically excited and cationic states of the ozone molecule and a comparison with spectral data

A number of valence and Rydberg, singlet and triplet excited states for ozone in the excitation energy range 1–12eV have been calculated by large scale CI methods preceded by MCSCF studies. A comparison of the theoretical intensity envelope with the VUV + EELS spectrum has been made. The present work supports the assignments for the Huggins + Hartley bands as having two electronic origins, 2 ¹A₁ and 1 ¹B₂. The experimental ～ 9.3eV and ～ 10.2eV bands of the VUV spectrum must have adventitious superposition of valence states on Rydberg transitions, because the high oscillator strengths of the valence states cannot be attributed to the 8.8eV broad band. A number of new valence and Rydberg states have been calculated, and these lead to the conclusion that the experimental 9–11 eV VUV spectral range in particular must yield more experimental states than the few so far identified. This suggests a major need for more sophisticated methods of experimental study for the excited state manifolds. The use of various MCSCF/CI studies of the vertical cationic states, supports the IP order as ²A₁ < ²B₂ < ²A₂. A re-analysis of the 12–13.4eV range of the UV-photoelectron band has been performed, with a view to determining the adiabatic IPs more accurately. The present work suggests that the adiabatic IP₂ lies at 12.86eV, slightly lower than has been assumed, with consequential effect on the analysis of the VUV spectrum near 9.4eV.     

The pseudo-Jahn—Teller effect: a CASSCF diagnostic

A simple test for the pseudo-Jahn-Teller effect is proposed, based on the behaviour of a CASSCF frequency calculation when symmetry is restricted. The test suggests that the pseudo-Jahn-Teller effect operates at the D_2h transition structure of S₀ pentalene and the D_8h transition structure of S₀ cyclooctatetraene. The D_4h transition structure of S₀ cyclooctatetraene is not subject to a pseudo-Jahn-Teller distortion according to this test. Our interpretation of the pseudo-Jahn-Teller effect differs from the conventional one based on a single-transition (CIS-like) approximation.     

Ethnic Preferences and Residential Segregation: Theoretical Explorations Beyond Detroit

We are strongly supportive of Fossett's theoretical approach and modeling methodology, which uses computational methods to perform thought experiments that generate compelling insights into the enigma of persistent residential segregation in the U.S. We also agree with his theoretical results, which challenge the prevailing view among demographers that institutional discrimination is the essential cause. However, we think he did not go far enough. Fossett limited his analysis to a narrow region of the parameter space that corresponded to conditions observed in one city at one time. This precludes generalization to other times and places and exploration of theoretically motivated “what if” scenarios that trespass beyond the Detroit city limits. When we extended the parameter space, we noticed two interesting results. First, Fossett's “paradox of weak minority preferences” requires qualification. Disproportionate in-group preferences among minorities are indeed segregation-promoting, not integration-promoting, but they generally have less impact on segregation than the in-group preferences of the majority. Second, not only are exclusionary practices and institutional discrimination not necessary for segregation (as Fossett demonstrates), we show that in certain regions of the parameter space they are not even sufficient.     

Size dependent properties of Hgn clusters

The size dependence of ionization potentials, electron affinities and cohesive energies of small Hg _n (n= 3,4,5,6,8,13, 15) clusters has been studied using a combination of relativistic energy-consistent pseudopotentials supplemented by core-polarization potentials and highly correlated valence wavefunctions. In order to ensure a size extensive treatment of electron correlation, coupled-cluster and quantum Monte Carlo calculations have been performed, and excellent agreement observed between the results obtained with the two methods. The experimentally observed systematic trends of these properties with respect to increasing cluster size are reproduced well.     

The singlet electronic states of pyrrole: a theoretical study by both ab initio multi-reference configuration interaction methods and time-dependent density functional theory and a reconsideration of the experimental VUV spectral data

The singlet electronic excitation spectrum of pyrrole has been reinvestigated by both multi-reference multi-root configuration interaction (CI) calculations and time-dependent density functional theory (DFT) with asymptotically corrected exchange-correlation potentials. The methods used a triple zeta valence + polarization + Rydberg (TZVPR) basis set and a much larger active space than in our previous CI study [Palmer, M. H., Walker, I. C., and Guest, M. F., 1998, Chem. Phys., 238, 179]. Computed vertical excitation energies, oscillator strengths and electronic charge distributions were used to characterize and assign the valence and Rydberg excited states over an energy range of 5–12 eV.

A comparison of the present methods with other high-level ab initio studies has been made, including the effects of basis sets and size of CI, and some statistical relationships determined. The present CI vertical excitation energies are generally in closer agreement with the cluster-type methods, especially CC3, than to the various second-order perturbation-type methods (CASPT2, CASPT2-MS, ADC(2) and MRMP).

The influence on the excitation energies from exact orbital exchange and multiplicative potentials in hybrid functional development has been investigated. Differences between the CI and the DFT methods vary in the order B97-2 < B97-1 < HCTH < LDA. The differences between hybrid DFT and CI excitations are minimized when the fraction of orbital exchange (ξ) lies in the approximate range 0.2–0.3. The Rydberg and valence-type excitations are seen to be less sensitive than the static polarizability to the inclusion of orbital exchange or multiplicative potentials in hybrid functional development.

In order to allow a realistic assessment of the performance of the theoretical studies, the assignment of the experimental electronic spectrum of pyrrole is discussed in detail. Previous conclusions have led to incorrect numbers of Rydberg s- and d-type states, while f-type states have previously been ignored. Some excitations from the second IP, which must occur in the 5–10 eV range, have been reassigned in light of the known small differences between other spectroscopic states and quantum defects. There is an urgent need for higher-resolution studies of pyrrole and related molecules.     

Calculation of accurate imaginary frequencies and tunnelling coefficients for hydrogen abstraction reactions using IRCmax

The effect of level of theory on the imaginary frequency and corresponding tunnelling coefficients has been studied for a test set of hydrogen abstraction reactions: ?CH₂X + CH₃Y → CH₃X + ?CH₂Y for (X,Y) = (H,H), (H,CN), (H,F), (H,Li) and (F,Li). It is found that the imaginary frequency is very sensitive to the level of theory used, with Hartree-Fock (HF) methods severely overestimating the imaginary frequency compared with high-level CCSD(T)/6-311G(d,p) calculations. The errors for the other methods are smaller but nonetheless significant, with MP2 methods overestimating the imaginary frequency and density functional theory (DFT) methods underestimating it. In the case of the HF methods, this leads to errors in the tunnelling coefficient of several orders of magnitude, while for the better DFT and MP2 methods errors of a factor of 2–3 are observed. To address this problem, an IRCmax procedure for estimating the imaginary frequency has been developed and it is found that IRCmax imaginary frequencies calculated with CCSD(T)/6-311G(d,p) single points along a low-level HF/6-31G(d) minimum energy path provide excellent approximations to the high-level values, at a fraction of the computational cost.     

OPTIMAL FISH HARVESTING FOR A POPULATION MODELED BY A NONLINEAR PARABOLIC PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

As the human population continues to grow, there is a need for better management of our natural resources in order for our planet to be able to produce enough to sustain us. One important resource we must consider is marine fish populations. We use the tool of optimal control to investigate harvesting strategies for maximizing yield of a fish population in a heterogeneous, finite domain. We determine whether these solutions include no‐take marine reserves as part of the optimal solution. The fishery stock is modeled using a nonlinear, parabolic partial differential equation with logistic growth, movement by diffusion and advection, and with Robin boundary conditions. The objective for the problem is to find the harvest rate that maximizes the discounted yield. Optimal harvesting strategies are found numerically.     

An Information Theoretic Approach to Regulation Systems

Based on the work of Enegell(1985), a novel approach to theanalaysis of control systems by means of information-theoreticalconcepts is presented. Using results from rate-distortion theory,the requisite variety of the regulator necessary for a certianperformance is derived. This theory is used to analyse feedbackregulation systems, in particular, the Minimum Variance Controllaw for linear systems with a quadratic performance criterion.The main result of this paper has implications for the evaluationof L-bounds on analytic functions.     

Computational bifurcation of periodic solutions in systems with symmetry

A bifurcation problem given by a -symmetric parameter-dependentsystem of autonomous ordinary differential equations is considered( a finite group). The main goal is to derive an efficient numericalmethod for the computation of symmetry breaking, period doublingand symmetry breaking period doubling bifurcations of periodicsolutions. For this the bifurcation problem is reformulatedin terms of Fourier coefficient vectors. This makes it possibleto make use of the spatial and temporal symmetries of periodicsolutions in order to reduce the effort for solving the problemeffectively. Finally, a Galerkin method based on Fourier expansionsis used for the numerical treatment and this method is illustratedby a numerical example.