Quasiclassical dynamics of the I2–Ne2vibrational predissociation: A comparison with experiment

Computational Modeling: Up-to-Date Approaches and Cutting-Edge Applications from Clusters, Nanostructures to Bulk Systems

The contributions in this special theme collection, in honor to Prof. P. Villarreal, cover a broad variety of computational methodologies and experimental techniques, containing studies on gas phase, clusters and condensed phase systems.

NeI2 Photofragmentation Dynamics Through Quasiclassical and Semiclassical Studies

The triatomic system NeI2 is studied under the consideration that the diatom is found in an excited electronic state (B). The vibrational levels (v=13, …, 23) are considered within two well-known theoretical procedures: quasi-classical trajectories (QCT), where the classical equations of motion for nuclei are solved on a single potential energy surface (PES), and the trajectory surface hopping (TSH) method, where the same are solved in a bunch of crossed vibrational PES (diabatic representation). The trajectory surface hopping fewest switches (TSHFS) is implemented to minimize the number of hoppings, thus allowing the calculations of hopping probability between the different PES's, and the kinetic mechanism to track the dissociation path. From these calculations, several observables such as, the lifetimes, vibrational and rotational energies (I2 ), dissociation channels, are obtained. Our results are compared with previous experimental and theoretical work.

Effective Phase Space Representation of the Quantum Dynamics of Vibrational Predissociation of the ArBr2(B,ν =16···25) Complex

We perform trajectory-based simulations of the vibrational predissociation of the ArBr₂(B,ν=16···25) van der Waals triatomic complex, constrained to the T-shape geometry. To this aim, we employ a 2-fold mapping of the quantum dynamics into classical-like dynamics in an extended phase space. The effective phase space comprises two distinct sets of degrees of freedom, namely a collection of coupled harmonic oscillators and an ensemble of quantum trajectories. The time evolution of these variables represent bound and unbound motions of the quantum system, respectively. Quantum trajectories are propagated within the interacting trajectory representation. The comparison between the lifetimes of the predissociating complexes computed using the trajectory-based approach and the experimental results available for the target systems indicates that the present method is competitive with wavepacket propagation techniques. The competition between several simultaneous vibrational relaxation pathways was found to have a direct impact on the time scales of vibrational predissociation. Likewise, the analysis of the time evolution of the trajectories reveals the existence of regions in the effective phase space where transitions to vibrational states of higher energy are more likely to occur. The size and location of these regions influence the transient vibrational distributions and therefore the computed lifetimes. Furthermore, the mechanisms of energy redistribution along the dissociation coordinate are analyzed.

Full-dimensional multi configuration time dependent Hartree calculations of the ground and vibrationally excited states of He2,3Br2 clusters

Quantum dynamics calculations are reported for the tetra-, and penta-atomic van der Waals He(N)Br(2) complexes using the multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree (MCTDH) method. The computations are carried out in satellite coordinates, and the kinetic energy operator in this set of coordinates is given. A scheme for the representation of the potential energy surface based on the sum of the three-body HeBr(2) interactions at CSSD(T) level plus the He-He interaction is employed. The potential surfaces show multiple close lying minima, and a quantum description of such highly floppy multiminima systems is presented. Benchmark, full-dimensional converged results on ground vibrational/zero-point energies are reported and compared with recent experimental data available for all these complexes, as well as with previous variational quantum calculations for the smaller HeBr(2) and He(2)Br(2) complexes on the same surface. Some low-lying vibrationally excited eigenstates are also computed by block improved relaxation calculations. The binding energies and the corresponding vibrationally averaged structures are determined for different conformers of these complexes. Their relative stability is discussed, and contributes to evaluate the importance of the multiple-minima topology of the underlying potential surface.

Vibrational predissociation dynamics of Cl2(B)-He2: a wave packet study

The vibrational predissociation of Cl(2)(B)-He(2) has been studied using a full dimensional wave packet method. The aim is to investigate the effect of increasing the grid size in the dissociative coordinates and the propagation time, on the convergence of observable magnitudes like predissociation lifetimes and Cl(2) product vibrational and rotational distributions. In particular, convergence of vibrational distributions is significantly affected by an artifact caused by the use of finite grids and absorbing conditions for the wave packet, combined with the presence of a sequential dissociation process. The results show that the lifetimes and the Cl(2)(B) rotational distributions are not greatly affected by increasing propagation time and grid size. However, convergence of the Cl(2) vibrational distribution is very slow, and the strategy of converging this property by increasing the grid size becomes impractical. An approximate model to estimate the Cl(2) vibrational populations is suggested, which is found to provide realistic distributions as compared with the available experimental ones. The main feature of the model is that its assumptions are closely based on the nature of the vibrational predissociation process occurring in the type of complexes. This feature of the model, in addition to its simplicity of implementation and negligible extra computational cost, contributes to the general applicability of the approach to BC(B)-Rg(2) complexes.

Ab initio ground and excited state potential energy surfaces for NO-Kr complex and dynamics of Kr solids with NO impurity

The intermolecular potentials for the NO(X 2Pi)-Kr and NO(A 2Sigma+)-Kr systems have been calculated using highly accurate ab initio calculations. The spin-restricted coupled cluster method for the ground 1 2A' state [NO(X 2Pi)-Kr] and the multireference singles and doubles configuration interaction method for the excited 2 2A' state [NO(A 2Sigma+)-Kr], respectively, were used. The potential energy surfaces (PESs) show two linear wells and one that is almost in the perpendicular position. An analytical representation of the PESs has been constructed for the triatomic systems and used to carry out molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the NO-doped krypton matrix response after excitation of NO. MD results are shown comparatively for three sets of potentials: (1) anisotropic ab initio potentials [NO molecule direction fixed during the dynamics and considered as a point (its center of mass)], (2) isotropic ab initio potentials (isotropic part in a Legendre polynomial expansion of the PESs), and (3) fitted Kr-NO potentials to the spectroscopic data. An important finding of this work is that the anisotropic and isotropic ab initio potentials calculated for the Kr-NO triatomic system are not suitable for describing the dynamics of structural relaxation upon Rydberg excitation of a NO impurity in the crystal. However, the isotropic ab initio potential in the ground state almost overlaps the published experimental potential, being almost independent of the angle asymmetry. This fact is also manifested in the radial distribution function around NO. However, in the case of the excited state the isotropic ab initio potential differs from the fitted potentials, which indicates that the Kr-NO interaction in the matrix is quite different because of the presence of the surrounding Kr atoms acting on the NO molecule. MD simulations for isotropic potentials reasonably reproduce the experimental observables for the femtosecond response and the bubble size but do not match spectroscopic results. A general overall view of the results suggests that, when the Kr-NO interaction takes place inside the matrix, potentials are rather symmetric and less repulsive than those for the triatomic system.

Quasi-classical trajectories study of Ne79Br2(B) vibrational predissociation

A full-dimensional quasi-classical trajectories study on the vibrational predissociation (VP) of the Ne79Br2(B) complex is presented. Following the most recent experiments, the Br2(B) vibrational levels v'=16-29 were explored. The total angular momentum, J, was taken to be zero, and a semiclassical Franck-Condon model to compute initial conditions from quantum distributions was employed. Predissociation lifetimes were extracted from Ne79Br2 population decay by using two different exponential laws. Predicted lifetimes are in excellent agreement with the last experimental results [J. A. Cabrera, C. R. Bieler, B. C. Olbricht, W. E. van der Veer and K. C. Janda, J. Chem. Phys., 2005, 123, 054311]. The Br2 fragment ro-vibrational distributions resulting from the VP of the molecule were obtained from the statistics of classical magnitudes using the standard binning procedure. Computed rotational distributions (for the Deltav'=-1, -2 channels) are also in very good agreement with the experimental results [M. Nejad-Sattari and T. A. Stephenson, J. Chem. Phys., 1997, 106 5454]. The influence of two quantum effects-the closing of the Deltav'=-1 dissociation channel and the intramolecular vibrational relaxation (IVR) mechanism-on the agreement with experimental rotational distributions, is discussed. Due to the classical character of our calculations and the binning procedure we used, the agreement of computed vibrational distributions with experimental and quantum theoretical is qualitative. For instance, for v'=28-for which the Deltav'=-1 channel is experimentally found to be closed-the Deltav'=-2 channel becomes statistically more significant. A discussion on the viability of similar quasi-classical methods to model the VP dynamics of analogous clusters is presented.

A full-dimensional quantum dynamical approach to the vibrational predissociation of Cl2–He2

A full-dimensional, fully coupled wave packet method is proposed and applied to investigate the vibrational predissociation dynamics of the Cl2(B,v')-He2 complex. Simulations are carried out for the resonance states associated with the v'=10-13 initial vibrational excitations of Cl2, and the results are compared with the available experimental data. A good agreement with experiment is achieved for the resonance lifetimes (typically within experimental error) and the Cl(2) fragment rotational distributions. The mechanism of dissociation of the two He atoms is found to be dominantly sequential, through the Deltav'= -2 channel. The probabilities obtained for the Deltav'= -1 dissociation channel are, however, overestimated due to the use of absorbing boundary conditions combined with finite grid effects. It is suggested that a mechanism of energy redistribution through the couplings between the van der Waals modes of the two weak bonds takes place in the Deltav'= -1 dissociation. This mechanism is consistent with the resonance lifetimes and Cl2 rotational distributions predicted. The favorable comparison with most of the experimental data supports the reliability of the potential used to model Cl2(B,v')-He2, at least in the present range of v' levels.

The dynamics of noble gas--halogen molecules and clusters

The vibrational relaxation of noble gas-halogen van der Waals clusters has been fertile territory for the development of experimental and theoretical tools for state-to-state dynamics studies. Proceeding through the various combinations of noble gas atoms and halogen molecules, one goes from "simple" direct vibrational predissociation, through sequential relaxation pathways, to the statistical intramolecular vibrational relaxation limit. In some cases the vibrational processes dominate, in others electronically nonadiabatic processes, including chemical reactions, interfere. Thus the noble gas-halogen species provide test cases for most of the dynamical processes available to more "normal" molecules. This review discusses the current state-of-the-art for such studies and points to important problems that remain to be solved.