Mobilities of C+, S+, and F− ions in helium

Interactions of Si+(2PJ) and Ge+ (2PJ) with rare gas atoms (He-Rn): interaction potentials, spectroscopy, and ion transport coefficients

Accurate interatomic potentials were calculated for the interaction of a singly-charged silicon cation, Si⁺, with a single rare gas atom, RG (RG = Kr-Rn), as well as a singly-charged germanium cation, Ge⁺, with a single rare gas atom, RG (RG = He-Rn). The RCCSD(T) method and basis sets of quadruple-ζ and quintuple-ζ quality were employed; each interaction energy is counterpoise corrected and extrapolated to the basis set limit. The lowest electronic term (²P) of each cation was considered, and the interatomic potentials calculated for the diatomic terms that arise from these: ²Π and ²Σ⁺. Additionally, the interatomic potentials for the respective spin-orbit levels were calculated, and the effect on the spectroscopic parameters was examined. Variations in several spectroscopic parameters with the increasing atomic number of RG were examined. The presence of incipient chemical interaction was also examined via Birge-Sponer-like plots and various population analyses across the series. In the cases of heavier RG, these were consistent with a small amount of electron transfer from the heavier RG atom to the cation, rationalizing the spin-orbit splittings. This was also supported by the observed larger-than-expected spin-orbit splittings for the Si⁺-RG complexes. Finally, each set of RCCSD(T) potentials including spin-orbit coupling was employed to calculate transport coefficients for the cation moving through a bath of the RG. The calculated ion mobilities showed significant differences for the two atomic spin-orbit states, arising from subtle changes in the interaction potentials.

Accurate potential energy curves for F−–Rg (Rg = He–Rn): Spectroscopy and transport coefficients

High-quality ab initio potential energy curves are presented for the F(-)-Rg series (Rg = He-Rn). Calculations are performed at the CCSD(T) level of theory, employing d-aug-cc-pV5Z quality basis sets, with "small core" relativistic effective core potentials being used for Kr-Rn. The quality of the curves is judged by agreement with recent high-level calculations in the case of F(-)-He and F(-)-Ne and by excellent agreement with mobility data for the systems F(-)-Rg (Rg = He-Xe). Except for these recent high-level calculations on the two lightest systems, we are able to deduce that all other previous potentials for the whole set of these systems are inadequate. We also present spectroscopic information for the titular species, derived from our potential energy curves.