An analysis of the A 1Σu+–X 1Σg+ band system of 7Li2

An accurate potential model for the a3Σu+ state of the lithium dimer

An accurate Tang-Toennies (TT) model potential is introduced to describe the interatomic potential of the lithium dimer in the a³Σ_u⁺ state. With only one well-known parameter, the ionization energy, the new model potential compares favorably with the experimentally fitted Morse/Long-range (MLR) potential of Dattani and Le Roy [J. Mol. Spectrosc., 2011, 268, 199] and is in excellent agreement with the state-of-the-art ab initio potential of Lesiuk et al. [Phys. Rev. A, 2020, 102, 062806]. With the known dispersion coefficients and the ionization energy, the new potential requires only two experimental parameters, namely the depth of the potential well D_e and its location R_e. The new potential can be extended to the region of zero separation by the united atom limit.

Rotational Energy Transfer in Highly Excited States of Lithium Dimer: Experiment and Modeling

We report level-resolved rate coefficients for collision-induced rotational energy transfer in the ⁷Li₂^*-Ne system, with ⁷Li₂^* in the highly electronically excited E(3)¹Σ_g⁺(v_i = 4, j_i = 31) and F(4)¹Σ_g⁺(v_i = 10, j_i = 31) states. The distributions of rate coefficients are strikingly different from those previously measured for the A(1)¹Σ_u⁺(v_i = 2-24, j_i = 30) state of the same molecule, falling off much more rapidly with increasing rotational quantum number change |Δj|. The reason for the difference was explored by means of an inverse Monte Carlo approach employing classical trajectories and a model potential, which was adjusted to give agreement with experiment. The modeling strongly suggests that the E and F state interaction potentials are much more nearly isotropic than that of the A state. The resulting dramatic reduction in rate coefficient, especially for large |Δj|, may be relevant in the relaxation of gases at high temperatures.

Competition between charge migration and charge transfer induced by nuclear motion following core ionization: Model systems and application to Li2. J Chem Phys 2019;151:124108. [PMID: 31575213 DOI: 10.1063/1.5117246]

Attosecond and femtosecond spectroscopies present opportunities for the control of chemical reaction dynamics and products, as well as for quantum information processing; we address the somewhat unique situation of core-ionization spectroscopy which, for dimeric chromophores, leads to strong valence charge localization and hence tightly paired potential-energy surfaces of very similar shape. Application is made to the quantum dynamics of core-ionized Li₂ ⁺. This system is chosen as Li₂ is the simplest stable molecule facilitating both core ionization and valence ionization. First, the quantum dynamics of some model surfaces are considered, with the surprising result that subtle differences in shape between core-ionization paired surfaces can lead to dramatic differences in the interplay between electronic charge migration and charge transfer induced by nuclear motion. Then, equation-of-motion coupled-cluster calculations are applied to determine potential-energy surfaces for 8 core-excited state pairs, calculations believed to be the first of their type for other than the lowest-energy core-ionized molecular pair. While known results for the lowest-energy pair suggest that Li₂ ⁺ is unsuitable for studying charge migration, higher-energy pairs are predicted to yield results showing competition between charge migration and charge transfer. Central is a focus on the application of Hush's 1975 theory for core-ionized X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to understand the shapes of the potential-energy surfaces and hence predict key features of charge migration.

Potential Energy Curves in the CASSCF/CASPT2 and FS-MR-CC Methods: The Role of Relativistic Effects

Ab initio CASSCF/CASPT2 calculations for the electronic ground and for a wide range of excited states of Li2 and Na2 dimers are presented. The computed spectroscopic parameters agree very well with the experimental data. This indicates that the old CASSCF/CASPT2 method can be as successfully applied to study excited states of molecules as recently developed the multireference Fock-space coulped-cluster method. The role of relativistic effects in the correct description of the potential energy curves has been investigated using as an example the SiAu molecule. The accuracy of the new infinite-order two-component relativistic method has been studied and its advantage over the Douglas-Kroll-Hess method demonstrated.

Quantum control of the spin-orbit interaction using the Autler-Townes effect

We have demonstrated quantum control of the spin-orbit interaction based on the Autler-Townes (ac-Stark) effect in a molecular system using a cw optical field. We show that the enhancement of the spin-orbit interaction between a pair of weakly interacting singlet-triplet rovibrational levels, G (1)Π(g)(v=12,J=21,f)-1 (3)Σ(g)(-)(v=1,N=21,f), separated by 750 MHz in the lithium dimer, depends on the Rabi frequency (laser power) of the control laser. The increase in the spin-orbit interaction due to the control field is observed as a change in the spin character of the individual components of the perturbed pair.

Absolute level-resolved reactive and inelastic rate constants in Li+Li2*

We have used nuclear parity-changing collisions to obtain absolute level-to-level rate constants for reactive scattering in a triatomic system with identical nuclei. We have determined rate constants for the system (7)Li(2) (*)(A (1)Sigma(u) (+))(v(i)=2,j(i)=19)+(7)Li-->(7)Li+(7)Li(2) (*)(A (1)Sigma(u) (+))(v(f),j(f)), from laser-induced fluorescence spectra of lithium vapor in a heat pipe oven. Parity-preserving collisions yielded measurements of absolute rotationally and vibrationally inelastic rate constants as well. We compare the reactive rate constants with statistical prior distributions and the inelastic results with previously measured results on the Ne+(7)Li(2) (*) system.

New spectroscopic data, spin-orbit functions, and global analysis of data on the AΣu+1 and bΠu3 states of Na2

The lowest electronically excited states of Na2 are of interest as intermediaries in the excitation of higher states and in the development of methods for producing cold molecules. We have compiled previously obtained spectroscopic data on the A 1Sigmau+ and b 3Piu states of Na2 from about 20 sources, both published and unpublished, together with new sub-Doppler linewidth measurements of about 15,000 A<--X transitions using polarization spectroscopy. We also present new ab initio results for the diagonal and off-diagonal spin-orbit functions. The discrete variable representation is used in conjunction with Hund's case a potentials plus spin-orbit effects to model data extending from v=0 to very close to the 3 2S+3 2P12 limit. Empirical estimates of the spin-orbit functions agree well with the ab initio functions for the accessible values of R. The potential function for the A state includes an exchange potential for S+P atoms, with a fitted coefficient somewhat larger than the predicted value. Observed and calculated term values are presented in an auxiliary (EPAPS) file as a database for future studies on Na2.

Control of Li2 wave packet dynamics by modification of the quantum mechanical amplitude of a single state

Sequences of pulses with different spectra are used to control rotational wave packet dynamics in Li(2) by exploiting quantum interference phenomena. Wave packet superpositions are excited in a two-step resonant Raman process by two different pulses. Interferences between individual states shared by both wave packets can be used to enhance or destroy specific components of a superposition by varying the time delay between the pulses and/or the relative phase within the pulses. Elimination of selected quantum beats is achieved by greater than 94% for each case. A simple, yet effective, method for generating different color phase-locked pairs of laser pulses in a liquid-crystal pulse shaper setup without the need for interferometric stabilization schemes is described. The ability to manipulate single states of a superposition is an important advancement for intuitive control schemes and provides a potential new approach for initialization schemes in the field of quantum information.

Enhanced Access to the Dark Triplet States of (7)Li(2) through New Singlet-Triplet A(1)Sigma(+)(u) approximately b(3)Pi(u) Perturbation Window Levels: Perturbation-Facilitated Optical-Optical Double Resonance Study of the 2(3)Sigma(+)(g) State

Two new pairs of singlet-triplet A(1)Sigma(+)(u) approximately b(3)Pi(u) mixed levels of (7)Li(2) have been observed and used here as "window" levels in cw perturbation-facilitated optical-optical double-resonance (PFOODR) experiments. Previously, only one b(3)Pi(u) vibrational level, v = 19, was known to mix with the singlet A(1)Sigma(+)(u) v = 13 level, resulting in three perturbed A approximately b pairs [L. Li, T. An, T.-J. Whang, A. M. Lyyra, W. C. Stwalley, R. W. Field, and R. A. Bernheim, J. Chem. Phys. 96, 3342 (1992)]. The scarcity of window levels and the resulting difficulty in accessing the dark triplet states of Li(2) is caused by the weak spin-orbit interaction of Li(2). The two new mixed b(3)Pi(u) v = 15 and 22 levels reported here enhance access to the dark triplet state manifold through expansion of the Franck-Condon overlap factor range. Furthermore, the earlier range of accessible rotational levels, N = 5, 7, and 10, is now expanded to include N = 8 and N = 16, thereby allowing for more reliable determination of the excited triplet states rotational structure. To demonstrate the importance of the new A(1)Sigma(+)(u) approximately b(3)Pi(u) mixed levels, we have studied the 2(3)Sigma(+)(g) state by cw PFOODR fluorescence excitation spectroscopy. New molecular constants and RKR potential curve have been determined. As previously reported [L. Li, G. Lazarov, and A. M. Lyyra, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 191, 387 (1998)], the 2(3)Sigma(+)(g) state interacts with the repulsive 1(3)Pi(g) state by L-uncoupling and predissociates. We show that some 2(3)Pi(g) levels predissociate accidentally by the 1(3)Pi(g) state via the 2(3)Sigma(+)(g) state through L-uncoupling. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Gauge symmetry, chirality and parity effects in four-particle systems: Coulomb's law as a universal function for diatomic molecules

Following recent work in search for a universal function (Van Hooydonk, Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., (1999), 1617), we test four symmetric +/- a(n)Rn potentials for reproducing molecular potential energy curves (PECs). Classical gauge symmetry for 1/R-potentials results in generic left right asymmetric PECs. A pair of symmetric perturbed Coulomb potentials is quantitatively in accordance with observed PECs. For a bond, a four-particle system, charge inversion (a parity effect, atom chirality) is the key to explain this shape generically. A parity adapted Hamiltonian reduces from ten to two terms and to a soluble Bohr-like formula, a Kratzer (1 - Re/R)2 potential. The result is similar to the combined action of spin and wave function symmetry upon the Hamiltonian in Heitler-London theory. Analytical perturbed Coulomb functions varying with (1 - Re/R) scale attractive and repulsive branches of PECs for 13 bonds H2, HF, LiH, KH, AuH, Li2, LiF, KLi, NaCs, Rb2, RbCs, Cs2 and I2 in a single straight line. The 400 turning points for 13 bonds are reproduced with a deviation of 0.007 A at both branches. For 230 points at the repulsive side, the deviation is 0.003 A. The perturbed electrostatic Coulomb law is a universal molecular function. Ab initio zero molecular parameter functions give PECs of acceptable quality, just using atomic ionisation energies. The function can be used as a model potential for inverting levels and gives a first principle's comparison of short- and long-range interactions, important for the study of cold atoms. Wave-packet dynamics, femto-chemistry applied to the crossing of covalent and ionic curves, can provide evidence for this theory. We anticipate this scale/shape invariant scheme applies to smaller scales in nuclear and high-energy particle physics. For larger gravitational scales (Newton 1/R potentials), problems with super-unification are discussed. Reactions between hydrogen and antihydrogen, feasible in the near future, will probably produce normal H2.

Precise Molecular Constants for the 6Li2 A1Sigma+u-X1Sigma+g System by Sub-Doppler Polarization Spectroscopy

We report here new and more accurate molecular constants from sub-Doppler polarization spectroscopy of the A1Sigma+u-X1Sigma+g system of 6Li2 using single mode cw dye lasers. These new constants cover the range of vibrational levels from v" = 0-8 in the ground state and v' = 0-24 in the excited state. New molecular constants and RKR potential energy curves for the A1Sigma+u and X1Sigma+g states are given. The Te value for the A1Sigma+u state is 14068.043(34) cm-1. The analysis indicates that there is a noticeable breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation for the 6Li2 and 7Li2 isotopomers. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.