Relationship between the 2-body Parameters of the Biswas-Hamann and the Bauer-Maysenholder-Seeger Potential Functions

A theoretical relation between the Bauer-Maysenholder-Seeger (BMS) and the Biswas-Hamann (BH) potential function has been developed herein for the case of 2-body interaction. By equating derivatives of these two potential functions for the 2-body part, a loose form of BMS is expressed in terms of BH parameters with a scaling factor. The validity of the developed parametric relationships has been graphically demonstrated, and the suitability discussed with reference to the extent and direction of bond distortion.     

Relativistic Dynamics in Basic Chemistry

This paper revisits the historical sequence in which some of the major developments of 20th-century physics occurred, and explores how theories could have turned out differently, if the sequence of developments had been different. It shows how a delay in founding special relativity theory until after (1) at least one puzzling problem in electromagnetic theory could be acknowledged, and (2) sat least some of the experimental observations pertinent to the development of quantum mechanics had become well known, could have resulted in a larger theory that covers both domains in a manner quite different from that of any of the theories we use today. The revised theory dispenses with a separate postulate introducing Planck’s constant h, identifying instead a physical mechanism that implies the constant. Some important aspects of quantum chemistry then follow. Editor, Galilean Electrodynamics, Proceedings of the Natural Philosophy Alliance; Visiting Industry Professor, Tufts University, retired     

Γ andX bandgap hydrostatic deformation potentials for epitaxial In0.52Al0.48As on InP(001)

The pressure dependence of the direct and indirect bandgap of epitaxial In_0.52Al_0.48As on InP(001) substrate has been measured using photoluminescence up to 92 kbar hydrostatic pressure. The bandgap changes from Γ toX at an applied pressure of ∼ 43 kbar. Hydrostatic deformation potentials for both the Γ andX bandgaps are deduced, after correcting for the elastic constant (bulk modulus) mismatch between the epilayer and the substrate. For the epilayer we obtain and+(2.81±0.15)eV for the Γ andX bandgaps respectively. From the pressure dependence of the normalized Γ-bandgap photoluminescence intensity a Γ-X lifetime ratio, (τ_Γ/τ _X ), of 4.1×10⁻³ is deduced.     

pH,Definition and measurement at high temperatures

In this review paper, the NBS scale and its limitations are briefly discussed. The magnitude of liquid junction potentials and some calculated values are presented. The use of a molality scale for hydrogen electrode concentration cells at high temperatures is described, and results from measurements on ionization equilibria are summarized. Use of this scale is also recommended for certain circumstances with cells without liquid junction. As an alternative activity scale, use of the Pitzer ion-interaction treatment for ions is recommended for special cases. Finally, reference data are presented for _±HCl in HCl(aq) to 350°C and (HCl+NaCl)(aq) to 200°C that were derived by use of the Pitzer ion-interaction treatment.Presented at the Second International Symposium on Chemistry in High Temperature Water, Provo, UT, August 1991.     

Transition state geometry in radical abstraction reactions: comparison of interatomic distances in the intersecting parabolas and Morse curves models with quantum-chemical calculations

Interatomic distances in the transition state were estimated for the reactions of radical abstraction: H^· + H₂, H^· + HCl, H^· + CH₄, N^·H₂ + NH₃, HO^· + H₂O, HO₂ ^· + HOOH, and C^·H₃ + SiH₄. The calculation was performed by the quantum-chemical density functional method or coupled clusters method (QCH), as well as by the methods of intersecting parabolas (IPM) and Morse curves (IMM), using experimental data (activation energies and reaction enthalpies). The results of the latter two methods are close to the quantum-chemical calculation and differ only by the increment a: r(IPM or IMM) = a + r(QCH), where a = –4.5·10^–12 m for IPM and a = +1.9·10^–12 m for IMM.     

A comparative quantum-chemical analysis of electronic structures and spectroscopic parameters of cycloalkanes and cyclopolysilanes

A comparative quantum-chemical analysis of the electronic structures and spectroscopic parameters of the cycloalkanes C₃H₆, C₄H₈, C₅H₁₀, and C₆H₁₂ and their silicon analogs Si₃H₆, Si₄H₈, Si₅H₁₀ and Si₆H₁₂ was performed in the framework of the SCF MO LCAO method in the INDO approximation. Qualitative interpretation of “abnormal” ionization potentials and energies of electronic absorption spectra of cyclopolysilanes has been given. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1105–1108, June, 1997.     

Tailoring approach for exploring electron densities and electrostatic potentials of molecular crystals

Experimental and theoretical studies of electron densities and the corresponding derived entities such as electrostatic potentials have been the primary means of understanding the chemical nature and electronic properties of crystalline substances. Conventional crystal calculation methods such as the embedded cluster models are capable of performing calculations on small and medium-sized molecules, while periodic ab initio methods can treat crystals with up to 200 atoms per unit cell. A linear scaling method, viz. the molecular tailoring approach, has recently been developed for obtaining ab initio quality one-electron properties. In the present study, the molecular tailoring approach is employed to generate electron density, electrostatic potential and interaction density maps with the ibuprofen crystal as a test case. The interaction density and electrostatic potential maps produced in the present work succinctly bring out the actual crystalline environment around a given reference molecule by including the interactions with atoms in its neighborhood. The results obtained from the molecular tailoring approach may thus be expected to enhance our understanding of the environment in the crystalline material with reasonably small computational effort.Contribution to the Jacopo Tomasi Honorary Issue     

Absolute rate calculations: atom and proton transfers in hydrogen-bonded systems.

We calculate energy barriers of atom- and proton-transfer reactions in hydrogen-bonded complexes in the gas phase. Our calculations do not involve adjustable parameters and are based on bond-dissociation energies, ionization potentials, electron affinities, bond lengths, and vibration frequencies of the reactive bonds. The calculated barriers are in agreement with experimental data and high-level ab initio calculations. We relate the height of the barrier with the molecular properties of the reactants and complexes. The structure of complexes with strong hydrogen bonds approaches that of the transition state, and substantially reduces the barrier height. We calculate the hydrogen-abstraction rates in H-bonded systems using the transition-state theory with the semiclassical correction for tunneling, and show that they are in excellent agreement with the experimental data. H-bonding leads to an increase in tunneling corrections at room temperature.     

Fitting complex potential energy surfaces to simple model potentials: application of the simplex-annealing method

A stochastic method of optimization, which combines simulated annealing with simplex, is implemented to fit the parameters of a simple model potential. The main characteristic of the method is that it explores the whole space of the parameters of the model potential, and therefore it is very efficient in locating the global minimum of the cost function, in addition to being independent of the initial guess of the parameters. The method is employed to fit the complex intermolecular potential energy surface of the dimer of water, using as a reference the spectroscopic quality anisotropic site-site potential of Feller et al. The simple model potential chosen for its reparameterization is the MCY model potential of Clementi et al. The quality of the fit is assessed by comparing the geometry of the minimum, the harmonic frequencies, and the second virial coefficients of the parameterized potential with the reference one. Finally, to prove more rigorously the robustness of this method, it is compared with standard nonstochastic methods of optimization.     

Anab initio investigation of Cu2Se and Cu4Se2

Summary Experimentally known copper selenium clusters show extraordinary geometrical features, especially short Cu-Cu distances. We report the first theoretical investigation of Cu₂Se and Cu₄Se₂. Various quantum chemical methods (SCF, MP2, CPF, CCSD, CCSD(T), LDF) are applied to determine the importance of dynamic electron correlation. We find that inclusion of correlation does not essentially change the electronic structure of the clusters but has a strong influence on geometries. To reduce the computational effort we apply effective core potentials (ECPs) in combination with small, but carefully optimized basis sets. The applicability of simple modellings of correlation energies for approximate inclusion of correlation effects in SCF geometry optimizations is tested.