Search

Couplings involving large amplitude vibrations in H+(H2O)n (n = 1-4) are explored using several theoretical approaches. These include harmonic treatments, analysis of harmonically coupled anharmonic oscillator (HCAO) models of the OH stretching vibrations, vibrational perturbation theory (VPT2) in internal coordinates, and diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC). It is found that couplings between shared proton stretches and HOH bends can lead to normal modes that are significantly mixed in character. Couplings between the various OH stretching vibrations are much weaker, and the OH stretches are well-described by harmonically coupled anharmonic oscillator models. Anharmonic couplings and the role of these large amplitude vibrations are further explored using DMC and VPT2. Based on the results of these calculations, it is found that all of the H+(H2O)n ions considered in this study display several different types of large amplitude vibrational motions even in their ground states. In the case of H7O3+, degenerate VPT2 calculations indicate that there are large couplings between the shared proton stretch and various lower frequency vibrations that correspond to motions that break the ionic hydrogen bonds. This leads to vibrational eigenstates that have contributions from several zero-order states.

Ultrafast pump-probe studies of I2- recombination in size-selected I2- (CO2)n cluster ions demonstrate long time coherent motions in size-selected clusters and the resulting non-statistical energy flow in the cluster. For I2- photodissociated to produce either I- + I or I- + I*, we identify a solvent-driven energy transfer process without a condensed phase counterpart. The mechanism involved is a Marcus-like solvent-driven curve crossing, with the driving force arising from asymmetric solvation, not just from solvent orientation. By substituting another halogen for one I atom, we "break" the I2- symmetry, and thus obtain direct information on the electron transfer process. New experiments on IBr- (CO2)n photodissociation products confirm the behavior suspected in the I2- studies. Time-resolved experiments on IBr- and theoretical modeling of the dynamics provide quantitative information on the multiple curve crossings encountered in the recombination process. In related investigations, femtosecond negative ion-neutral-positive ion charge reversal apparatus is employed to investigate transient neutral species evolving along a reaction coordinate. We report studies of the rearrangement dynamics of Cu(OH2) produced by photodetachment of the corresponding anion. Following a controlled delay period, a second ultrafast tunable laser pulse initiates resonant multiphoton photoionization of the time-evolving Cu...OH2 complex. The time-resolved Cu+ and Cu+(OH2) signals provide information both on the prompt dissociation of the complex and on energy redistribution between internal rotational and radial modes of the evolving complex. Calculations of the time evolution of the anion geometric configuration on the neutral potential energy surface yield deeper insight into the nature of the rearrangement process and the energy flow within the complex.

In this paper, a multiple configurational time-dependent self-consistent field (TDSCF) approach for studying photodissociation and reaction dynamics is described. This approach has been applied to studies of several benchmark systems and is found to provide an accurate description of the reactions. The focus of the present work is on investigations of processes in cluster environments. Specifically, the dynamics of the O(3P) + HCl reaction and H2O photodissociation dynamics in isolation and in Van der Waals complexes with one argon atom are compared. The nature and importance of quantum mechanical effects in these systems are investigated through an analysis of the results of the quantum/classical simulations and a comparison of these results with those obtained from previously reported experimental and classical studies on these systems. It is found that, although the effects of complexation are subtle, they are not negligible. In addition, most of them can be understood in terms of kinematic and steric factors, although electronic effects cannot be dismissed.