Observation of the pure rotational spectra of trans- and cis-HOCO

Pure rotational spectra of trans- and cis-HOCO have been observed by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy and the millimeter-wave double resonance technique, where gas phase spectra of the cis-conformer were observed for the first time. These radicals were produced in a supersonic jet by discharging a mixture gas of CO and H(2)O diluted in Ar. The molecular constants including the fine and hyperfine constants have been precisely determined for both conformers. Deuterated analogs have also been observed. The determined r(0) structures agree with these of ab initio calculations. The Fermi contact constants show a difference of the unpaired electron densities on the protons between the two conformers. Intensity of the spectrum for cis-HOCO was compared with that of trans-HOCO, leading to a conclusion that both conformers were produced nearly equally in abundance under the present experimental conditions.     

Intermolecular potential energy surface of Ar-NO

Rotational spectra of an open-shell complex, Ar-NO, in the electronic ground state have been analyzed by employing an analysis using a free-rotor model, where previously observed data by Mills et al. [J. Phys. Chem. 90, 3331 (1986); 90, 4961 (1986)] and additional transitions observed by Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy in the present study are simultaneously analyzed with a standard deviation of the least-squares fit to be 27.5 kHz. A two-dimensional intermolecular potential energy surface for Ar-NO has been determined from the analysis. The determined potential energy surface is compared with those of Ar-OH and Ar-SH, which are also complexes containing an open-shell species with the 2Pi ground electronic state.     

Monitoring the effect of a control pulse on a conical intersection by time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy

We have previously shown how femtosecond angle- and energy-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy can be used to monitor quantum wavepacket bifurcation at an avoided crossing or conical intersection and also how a symmetry-allowed conical intersection can be effectively morphed into an avoided crossing by photo-induced symmetry breaking. The latter result suggests that varying the parameters of a laser to modify a conical intersection might control the rate of passage of wavepackets through such regions, providing a gating process for different chemical products. In this paper, we show with full quantum mechanical calculations that such optical control of conical intersections can actually be monitored in real time with femtosecond angle- and energy-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. In turn, this suggests that one can optimally control the gating process at a conical intersection by monitoring the photoelectron velocity map images, which should provide far more efficient and rapid optimal control than measuring the ratio of products. To demonstrate the sensitivity of time-resolved photoelectron spectra for detecting the consequences of such optical control, as well as for monitoring how the wavepacket bifurcation is affected by the control, we report results for quantum wavepackets going through the region of the symmetry-allowed conical intersection between the first two (2)A' states of NO(2) that is transformed to an avoided crossing. Geometry- and energy-dependent photoionization matrix elements are explicitly incorporated in these studies. Time-resolved photoelectron angular distributions and photoelectron images are seen to systematically reflect the effects of the control pulse.     

Diode laser spectroscopy of the HO2ν2 band

The vibration-rotation spectrum of the HO₂ν₂ bending fundamental band was observed by a semiconductor diode laser spectrometer with a Zeeman modulation technique. The wavelength of the laser was measured by a high-precision λ meter. Of 153 lines which were observed by Zeeman modulation, 137 lines were assigned. A least-squares analysis was carried out on 131 observed lines with 1 ≦ N ≦ 13 and 0 ≦ K_a ≦ 4, to determine the rotational constants, the centrifugal distortion constants, and the spin-rotation interaction constants in the ν₂ state. The band origin, which was also derived, is 1391.7540 (2) cm^?1 [the value in the parenthesis denotes the standard error]. The force field of the HO₂ molecule is briefly discussed using molecular constants obtained in previous works and in the present work.     

Spectroscopy of Ar-SH and Ar-SD. II. Determination of the three-dimensional intermolecular potential-energy surface

All the pure rotational transitions reported in the previous studies [J. Chem. Phys. 113, 10121 (2000); J. Mol. Spectrosc. 222, 22 (2003)] and newly observed rotation-vibration transitions, P = 1/2 <-- 3/2, for Ar-SH and Ar-SD [J. Chem. Phys. (2005), the preceding paper] have been simultaneously analyzed to determine a new intermolecular potential-energy surface of Ar-SH in the ground state. A Schrodinger equation considering the three-dimensional freedom of motion for an atom-diatom complex in the Jacobi coordinate, R, theta, and r, was numerically solved to obtain energies of the rovibrational levels using the discrete variable representation method. A three-dimensional potential-energy surface is determined by a least-squares fitting with initial values of the parameters for the potential obtained by ab initio calculations at the RCCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory. The potential well reproduces all the observed data in the microwave and millimeter wave regions with parity doublings and hyperfine splittings. Several low-lying rovibrational energies are calculated using the new potential-energy surface. The dependence of the interaction energy between Ar and SH(2pi(i)) on the bond length of the SH monomer is discussed.     

Novel Phenomena of Crystallization and Emulsification of Hydrophobic Solute in Aqueous Solution

Emulsification of lauric acid in an aqueous ethanol solution including lauric acid solute has been observed during cooling before crystallization of lauric acid occurs. The nature of two different solubility curves was explained for the system of lauric acid and aqueous ethanol solution. The mutual solubility of the two liquid phases controls emulsification; the solid solubility of lauric acid controls crystallization. The mutual solubility curve appears at relatively high temperature, and the solid solubility curve at relatively low temperature. Crystallization essentially generates a solid metastable zone under the solid solubility curve. A supersaturated solution can be obtained in the metastable zone. However, no nucleation occurs in the metastable zone. The metastable zone, therefore, still caused emulsification at low temperature before crystallization of lauric acid occurred. The hypothetical mutual solubility curve for the aqueous solution including hydrophobic solutes appeared invariably even at low temperature in the metastable zone under the solid solubility. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.