Search

The infrared (IR) emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) permeates our universe; astronomers have detected the IR signatures of PAHs around many interstellar objects. The IR emission of interstellar PAHs differs from their emission as seen under conditions on Earth as they emit through a collisionless cascade down through their excited vibrational states from high internal energies. The difficulty in reproducing interstellar conditions in the laboratory results in a reliance on theoretical techniques. However, the size and complexity of PAHs require careful consideration when producing the theoretical spectra. In this work, we outline the theoretical methods necessary to lead to fully theoretical IR cascade spectra of PAHs including: an anharmonic second order vibrational perturbation theory treatment, the inclusion of Fermi resonances through polyads, and the calculation of anharmonic temperature band shifts and broadenings (including resonances) through a Wang–Landau approach. We also suggest a simplified scheme to calculate vibrational emission spectra that retain the essential characteristics of the full IR cascade treatment and can directly transform low temperature absorption spectra in IR cascade spectra. Additionally we show that past astronomical models were in error in assuming a 15 cm−1 correction was needed to account for anharmonic emission effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the issue of properly describing the out-of-plane bends (OPBs) in sp2 hybridized carbon atoms has reappeared for c-SiC2H2, the present quantum chemical study provides a new characterization of this molecule in order to aid in its potential detection in astrophysically relevant studies. Combining the previous, high-level approach with MP2-F12/aug-cc-pVDZ gives exceptionally accurate results for the comparison of experimental rotational constants and seemingly reliable vibrational frequencies. Most notably, the brightest fundamental vibrational frequency in c-SiC2H2, the b1 OPB, is predicted to lie at 673.4 cm−1, within 4.0 cm−1 of the previous matrix isolation experiment. As with c-C3H2, CCSD(T)-F12/aug-cc-pVTZ appears to be quite susceptible to over estimating the OPB anharmonic correction in c-SiC2H2 and may also do such for in-plane bends, as well. MP2-F12/aug-cc-pVDZ is less susceptible to these errors, and increasing the step size reduces this positive anharmonicity issue in both the cases. The OPB underestimation, however, likely still remains. Finally, estimates for some anharmonic vibrational frequencies are provided for the methylated form, c-SiC2HCH3, which is likely also a product of gas phase reactions of ·SiH with various alkynes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-carbon multiply bonded systems are improperly described with standard,wave function-based correlation methods and Gaussian one-particle basis sets implying that thermochemical, spectroscopic, and potential energy surface computations are consistently erroneous. For computations of vibrational modes, the out-of-plane bends can be reported as imaginary at worst or simply too low at best. Utilizing the simplest of aromatic structures (cyclopropenylidene) and various levels of theory, this work diagnoses this known behavior as a combined one-particle and n-particle basis set effect for the first time. In essence, standard carbon basis sets do not describe equally well sp, sp², and sp³ hybridized orbitals, and this effect is exacerbated post-Hartree-Fock by correlation methods. The latter allow for occupation of the π and π* orbitals in the expanded wave function that combine with the hydrogen s orbitals. As a result, the improperly described space is non-physically stabilized by post-Hartree-Fock correlation. This represents a fundamental problem in wavefunction theory for describing carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NS2 radical is a simple arrangement of atoms with a complex electronic structure. This molecule was first reported by Hassanzadeh and Andrew's group [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 114, 83 (1992)] through Ar matrix isolation experiments. In the quarter century since this seminal work was published, almost nothing has been reported about nitrogen disulfide even though NS2 is isovalent with the common NO2. The present study aims to shed new insight into possible challenges with the characterization of this radical. No less than three potential energy surfaces all intersect in the C2v region of the SNS radical isomer. A type-C Renner-Teller molecule is present for the linear 2πu state where the potential energy surface is fully contained within the 2.05 kcal/mol lower energy X ²A1 state. A C2v, 1 ²B1 state is present in this same region, but a double excitation is required to access this state from the X ²A1 state of SNS. Additionally, a 1 ²A' NSS isomer is also present but with notable differences in the geometry from the global minimum. Consequently, the rovibronic spectrum of these NS2 isomers is quite complicated. While the present theory and previous Ar matrix experiments agree well on isotopic shifts, they differ notably for the absolute fundamental vibrational frequency transitions. These differences are likely a combination of matrix shifts and issues associated with the neglect of non-adiabatic coupling in the computations. In either case, it is clear that high-resolution gas phase experimental observations will be complicated to sort. The present computations should aid in their analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of interstellar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) relies heavily on theoretically predicted infrared spectra. Most earlier studies use scaled harmonic frequencies for band positions and the double harmonic approximation for intensities. However, recent high-resolution gas-phase experimental spectroscopic studies have shown that the harmonic approximation is not sufficient to reproduce experimental results. In our previous work, we presented the anharmonic theoretical spectra of three linear PAHs, showing the importance of including anharmonicities into the theoretical calculations. In this paper, we continue this work by extending the study to include five non-linear PAHs (benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and triphenylene), thereby allowing us to make a full assessment of how edge structure, symmetry, and size influence the effects of anharmonicities. The theoretical anharmonic spectra are compared to spectra obtained under matrix isolation low-temperature conditions, low-resolution, high-temperature gas-phase conditions, and high-resolution, low-temperature gas-phase conditions. Overall, excellent agreement is observed between the theoretical and experimental spectra although the experimental spectra show subtle but significant differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleobases are the carriers of the genetic information in ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) for all life on Earth. Their presence in meteorites clearly indicates that compounds of biological importance can form via non-biological processes in extraterrestrial environments. Recent experimental studies have shown that the pyrimidine-based nucleobases uracil and cytosine can be easily formed from the ultraviolet irradiation of pyrimidine in H2O-rich ice mixtures that simulate astrophysical processes. In contrast, thymine, which is found only in DNA, is more difficult to form under the same experimental conditions, as its formation usually requires a higher photon dose. Earlier quantum chemical studies confirmed that the reaction pathways were favorable provided that several H2O molecules surrounded the reactants. However, the present quantum chemical study shows that the formation of thymine is limited because of the inefficiency of the methylation of pyrimidine and its oxidized derivatives in an H2O ice, as supported by the laboratory studies. Our results constrain the formation of thymine in astrophysical environments and thus the inventory of organic molecules delivered to the early Earth and have implications for the role of thymine and DNA in the origin of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current efforts to characterize and study interstellar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) rely heavily on theoretically predicted infrared (IR) spectra. Generally, such studies use the scaled harmonic frequencies for band positions and double harmonic approximation for intensities of species, and then compare these calculated spectra with experimental spectra obtained under matrix isolation conditions. High-resolution gas-phase experimental spectroscopic studies have recently revealed that the double harmonic approximation is not sufficient for reliable spectra prediction. In this paper, we present the anharmonic theoretical spectra of three PAHs: naphthalene, anthracene, and tetracene, computed with a locally modified version of the SPECTRO program using Cartesian derivatives transformed from Gaussian 09 normal coordinate force constants. Proper treatments of Fermi resonances lead to an impressive improvement on the agreement between the observed and theoretical spectra, especially in the C-H stretching region. All major IR absorption features in the full-scale matrix-isolated spectra, the high-temperature gas-phase spectra, and the most recent high-resolution gas-phase spectra obtained under supersonically cooled molecular beam conditions in the CHstretching region are assigned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though quartic force fields (QFFs) and highly accurate coupled cluster computations describe the OCHCO+ cation at equilibrium as a complex between carbon monoxide and the formyl cation, two notable and typical interstellar and atmospheric molecules, the prediction from the present study is that the equilibrium C8v structure is less relevant to observables than the saddle-point D∞h structure. This is the conclusion from diffusion Monte Carlo and vibrational self-consistent field/virtual state configuration interaction calculations utilizing a semi-global potential energy surface. These calculations demonstrate that the proton "rattle" motion (v6) has centrosymmetric delocalization of the proton over the D∞h barrier lying only 393.6 cm-1 above the double-well OCHCO+ C∞v minima. As a result, this molecule will likely appear D8h, and the rotational spectrum will be significantly dimmer than the computed equilibrium 2.975 D center-of-mass dipole moment indicates. However, the proton transfer fundamental, determined to be at roughly 300 cm-1, has a very strong intensity. This prediction as well as those of other fundamentals should provide useful guides for laboratory detection of this cation. Finally, it is shown that the two highest energy QFF-determined modes are actually in good agreement with their vibrational configuration interaction counterparts. These high-level quantum chemical methods provide novel insights into this fascinating and potentially common interstellar molecule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A full derivation of the analytic transformation of the quadratic, cubic, and quartic force constants from normal coordinates to Cartesian coordinates is given. Previous attempts at this transformation have resulted in non-linear transformations; however, for the first time, a simple linear transformation is presented here. Two different approaches have been formulated and implemented, one of which does not require prior knowledge of the translation-rotation eigenvectors from diagonalization of the Hessian matrix. The validity of this method is tested using two molecules H2O and c-C3H2D+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A purely ab initio potential energy surface (PES) was refined with selected 32S16O2 HITRAN data. Compared to HITRAN, the root-mean-squares error (σRMS) for all J = 0-80 rovibrational energy levels computed on the refined PES (denoted Ames-1) is 0.013 cm-1. Combined with a CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pV(Q+d)Z dipole moment surface (DMS), an infrared (IR) line list (denoted Ames-296K) has been computed at 296 K and covers up to 8000 cm-1. Compared to the HITRAN and CDMS databases, the intensity agreement for most vibrational bands is better than 85%- 90%. Our predictions for 34S16O2 band origins, higher energy 32S16O2 band origins and missing 32S16O2 IR bands have been verified by most recent experiments and available HITRAN data. We conclude that the Ames-1 PES is able to predict 32/34S16O2 band origins below 5500 cm-1 with 0.01-0.03 cm-1 uncertainties, and the Ames-296K line list provides continuous, reliable and accurate IR simulations. The Ka-dependence of both line position and line intensity errors is discussed. The line list will greatly facilitate SO2 IR spectral experimental analysis, as well as elimination of SO2 lines in high-resolution astronomical observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a CCSD(T)/cc-pCV5Z quartic force field (QFF) and a semi-global CCSD(T)-F12b/aug-cc-pVTZ potential energy surface (PES) for singlet, cyclic C4. Vibrational fundamentals, combinations, and overtones are obtained using vibrational second-order perturbation theory (VPT2) and the vibrational configuration-interaction (VCI) approach. Agreement is within 10 cm-1 between the VCI calculated fundamentals on the QFF and PES using the MULTIMODE (MM) program, and VPT2 and VCI results agree for the fundamentals. The agreement between VPT2-QFF and MM-QFF results is also good for the C4 combinations and overtones. The J = 1 and J = 2 rovibrational energies are reported from both VCI (MM) on the PES and VPT2 on the QFF calculations. The spectroscopic constants of 12C4 and two C2v-symmetry, single 13C-substituted isotopologues are presented, which may help identification of cyclic C4 in future experimental analyses or astronomical observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interstellar presence of protonated nitrous oxide has been suspected for some time. Using established high-accuracy quantum chemical techniques, spectroscopic constants and fundamental vibrational frequencies are provided for the lower energy O-protonated isomer of this cation and its deuterated isotopologue. The vibrationally-averaged B0 and C0 rotational constants are within 6 MHz of their experimental values and the DJ quartic distortion constants agree with experiment to within 3%. The known gas phase O-H stretch of NNOH+ is 3330.91 cm-1, and the vibrational configuration interaction computed result is 3330.9 cm-1. Other spectroscopic constants are also provided, as are the rest of the fundamental vibrational frequencies for NNOH+ and its deuterated isotopologue. This high-accuracy data should serve to better inform future observational or experimental studies of the rovibrational bands of protonated nitrous oxide in the interstellar medium and the laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Only one fundamental vibrational frequency of protonated carbon dioxide (HOCO+) has been experimentally observed in the gas phase: the ν1 O-H stretch. Utilizing quartic force fields defined from CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVXZ (X = T,Q,5) complete basis set limit extrapolated energies modified to include corrections for core correlation and scalar relativistic effects coupled to vibrational perturbation theory and vibrational configuration interaction computations, we are predicting the full set of gas phase fundamental vibrational frequencies of HOCO+. Our prediction of ν1 is within less than 1 cm-1 of the experimental value. Our computations also include predictions of the gas phase fundamental vibrational frequencies of the deuterated form of the cation, DOCO+. Additionally, other spectroscopic constants for both systems are reported as part of this study, and a search for a cis-HOCO+ minimum found no such stationary point on the potential surface indicating that only the trans isomer is stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An isotopic-independent, highly accurate potential energy surface (PES) has been determined for CO2 by refining a purely ab initio PES with selected, purely experimentally determined rovibrational energy levels. The purely ab initio PES is denoted Ames-0, while the refined PES is denoted Ames-1. Detailed tests are performed to demonstrate the spectroscopic accuracy of the Ames-1 PES. It is shown that Ames-1 yields σrms (root-mean-squares error) = 0.0156 cm-1 for 6873 J = 0-117 12C16O2 experimental energy levels, even though less than 500 12C16O2 energy levels were included in the refinement procedure. It is also demonstrated that, without any additional refinement, Ames-1 yields very good agreement for isotopologues. Specifically, for the 12C16O2 and 13C16O2 isotopologues, spectroscopic constants Gv computed from Ames-1 are within ±0.01 and 0.02 cm-1 of reliable experimentally derived values, while for the 16O12C18O, 16O12C17O, 16O13C18O, 16O13C17O, 12C18O2, 17O12C18O, 12C17O2, 13C18O2, 13C17O2, 17O13C18O, and 14C16O2 isotopologues, the differences are between ±0.10 and 0.15 cm-1. To our knowledge, this is the first time a polyatomic PES has been refined using such high J values, and this has led to new challenges in the refinement procedure. An initial high quality, purely ab initio dipole moment surface (DMS) is constructed and used to generate a 296 K line list. For most bands, experimental IR intensities are well reproduced for 12C16O2 using Ames-1 and the DMS. For more than 80% of the bands, the experimental intensities are reproduced with σrms(ΔI) < 20% or σrms(ΔI/δobs) < 5. A few exceptions are analyzed and discussed. Directions for future improvements are discussed, though it is concluded that the current Ames-1 and the DMS should be useful in analyzing and assigning high-resolution laboratory or astronomical spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly correlated ab initio quartic force fields (QFFs) are used to calculate the equilibrium structures and predict the spectroscopic parameters of three HC2N isomers. Specifically, the ground state quasilinear triplet and the lowest cyclic and bent singlet isomers are included in the present study. Extensive treatment of correlation effects were included using the singles and doubles coupled-cluster method that includes a perturbational estimate of the effects of connected triple excitations, denoted as CCSD(T). Dunning's correlation-consistent basis sets cc-pVXZ, X = 3,4,5, were used, and a three-point formula for extrapolation to the one-particle basis set limit was used. Core-correlation and scalar relativistic corrections were also included to yield highly accurate QFFs. The QFFs were used together with second-order perturbation theory (PT) (with proper treatment of Fermi resonances) and variational methods to solve the nuclear Schrödinger equation. The quasilinear nature of the triplet isomer is problematic, and it is concluded that a QFF is not adequate to describe properly all of the fundamental vibrational frequencies and spectroscopic constants (though some constants not dependent on the bending motion are well reproduced by PT). On the other hand, this procedure (a QFF together with either PT or variational methods) leads to highly accurate fundamental vibrational frequencies and spectroscopic constants for the cyclic and bent singlet isomers of HC2N. All three isomers possess significant dipole moments, 3.05 D, 3.06 D, and 1.71 D, for the quasilinear triplet, the cyclic singlet, and the bent singlet isomers, respectively. It is concluded that the spectroscopic constants determined for the cyclic and bent singlet isomers are the most accurate available, and it is hoped that these will be useful in the interpretation of high-resolution astronomical observations or laboratory experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of accurate quartic force fields together with vibrational configuration interaction recently predicted gas phase fundamental vibrational frequencies of the trans-HOCO radical to within 4 cm-1 of experimental results for the two highest frequency modes. Utilizing the same approach, we are providing a full list of fundamental vibrational frequencies and spectroscopic constants for the cis-HOCO system in both radical and anionic forms. Our predicted geometrical parameters of the cis-HOCO radical match experiment and previous computation to better than 1% deviation, and previous theoretical work agrees equally well for the anion. Correspondence between vibrational perturbation theory and variational vibrational configuration interaction for prediction of the frequencies of each mode is strong, better than 5 cm-1, except for the torsional motion, similar to what has been previously identified in the trans-HOCO radical. Among other considerations, our results are immediately applicable to dissociative photodetachment experiments which initially draw on the cis-HOCO anion since it is the most stable conformer of the anion and is used to gain insight into the portion of the OH + CO potential surface where the HOCO radical is believed to form, and we are also providing highly accurate electron binding energies relevant to these experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the search for a full mechanism creating CO2 from OH + CO, it has been suggested that creation of the hydroxyformyl or HOCO radical may be a necessary step. This reaction and its transient intermediate may also be responsible for the regeneration of CO2 in such high quantities in the atmosphere of Mars. Past spectroscopic observations of this radical have been limited and a full gas phase set of the fundamental vibrational frequencies of the HOCO radical has not been reported. Using established, highly accurate quantum chemical coupled cluster techniques and quartic force fields, we are able to compute all six fundamental vibrational frequencies and other spectroscopic constants for trans-HOCO in the gas phase. These methods have yielded rotational constants that are within 0.01 cm-1 for A0 and 10-4 cm-1 for B0 and C0 compared with experiment as well as fundamental vibrational frequencies within 4 cm-1 of the known gas phase experimental ν1 and ν2 modes. Such results lead us to conclude that our prediction of the other four fundamental modes of trans-HOCO are also quite reliable for comparison to future experimental observation, though the discrepancy for the torsional mode may be larger since it is fairly anharmonic. With the upcoming European Space Agency/NASA ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, these data may help to establish whether HOCO is present in the Martian sky and what role it may play in the retention of a CO2-rich atmosphere. Furthermore, these data may also help to clear up questions built around the fundamental chemical process of how exactly the OH + CO reaction progresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several aspects of ammonia rovibrational spectra have been investigated using the new HSL-2 potential energy surface that includes an approximate correction for nonadiabatic effects. The unprecedented accuracy of rovibrational energy levels and transition energies computed using HSL-2 was demonstrated in Part I of this study. For 14NH3, new assignments for a few ν3 + ν4 band transitions and energy levels are suggested, and discrepancies between computed and HITRAN energy levels in the 2ν4 band are analyzed (2ν4 is the most difficult band below 5000 cm-1). New assignments are suggested for existing or missing 2ν4 levels. Several new vibrational bands are identified from existing, unassigned HITRAN data, including 2ν2 + ν4, (ν3 + ν4) -A′/A″, ν1 + 2ν2, and 2ν2 + 2ν4. The strong mixing between the 2ν4 and 2ν2 + ν4 bands is carefully examined and found to be the source of the difficulties in the experimental modeling of 2ν4. Discussion is presented for preliminary J = 10 results, where the overall root-mean-square error is estimated to be less than 0.039 cm-1. The analysis of the 4ν2 band demonstrates both the reliability and the accuracy of predictions from HSL-2. The full list of computed J = 0 band origins (with assignments) and the inversion splittings up to 7000-8000 cm-1 above the zero-point energy are presented. J = 0-2 levels are reported for those bands below 5100 cm-1 that are missing from the HITRAN database. For 15NH3, excellent agreement is found for the available ν2 and ν3 + ν4(E) transition energies, but significant deficiencies are shown for HITRAN levels and several corrections are suggested. The 15N isotopic effects are presented for the J = 0-6 levels of 13 HITRAN bands. For 14ND3, we reproduce the pure rotational inversion spectra line frequencies with an accuracy similar to that for 14NH3. However, it is not possible to reproduce simultaneously all four pairs of inversion-split vibrational fundamentals to better than 0.05 cm-1 uncertainty. It is suggested that a reanalysis of some suspicious 14ND3 fundamental bands is required. The analyses presented here and in Part I show that rovibrational energy levels and transition frequencies computed with HSL-2 (with nonadiabatic corrections) remain highly accurate well beyond the experimental data used in the refinement procedure. Calculations using HSL-2 are capable of revealing many deficiencies in experimental analyses of ammonia spectra and provide reliable predictions with similar accuracy. It is expected that the results of this study will be useful in the future interpretation of high-resolution spectra from laboratory experiments or from astronomical observations. The present work represents a very significant advance in the state of our knowledge of the spectroscopy of ammonia and its isotopologues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we build upon our previous work on the theoretical spectroscopy of ammonia, NH3. Compared to our 2008 study, we include more physics in our rovibrational calculations and more experimental data in the refinement procedure, and these enable us to produce a potential energy surface (PES) of unprecedented accuracy. We call this the HSL-2 PES. The additional physics we include is a second-order correction for the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, and we find it to be critical for improved results. By including experimental data for higher rotational levels in the refinement procedure, we were able to greatly reduce our systematic errors for the rotational dependence of our predictions. These additions together lead to a significantly improved total angular momentum (J) dependence in our computed rovibrational energies. The root-mean-square error between our predictions using the HSL-2 PES and the reliable energy levels from the HITRAN database for J = 0-6 and J = 7/8 for 14NH3 is only 0.015 cm-1 and 0.020/0.023 cm-1, respectively. The root-mean-square errors for the characteristic inversion splittings are approximately 1/3 smaller than those for energy levels. The root-mean-square error for the 6002 J = 0-8 transition energies is 0.020 cm-1. Overall, for J = 0-8, the spectroscopic data computed with HSL-2 is roughly an order of magnitude more accurate relative to our previous best ammonia PES (denoted HSL-1). These impressive numbers are eclipsed only by the root-mean-square error between our predictions for purely rotational transition energies of 15NH3 and the highly accurate Cologne database (CDMS): 0.00034 cm-1 (10 MHz), in other words, 2 orders of magnitude smaller. In addition, we identify a deficiency in the 15NH3 energy levels determined from a model of the experimental data . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-particle basis set extrapolation is compared with one of the new R12 methods for computing highly accurate quartic force fields (QFFs) and spectroscopic data, including molecular structures, rotational constants, and vibrational frequencies for the H2O, N2H+, NO2+, and C2H2 molecules. In general, agreement between the spectroscopic data computed from the best R12 and basis set extrapolation methods is very good with the exception of a few parameters for N2H+ where it is concluded that basis set extrapolation is still preferred. The differences for H2O and NO2+ are small and it is concluded that the QFFs from both approaches are more or less equivalent in accuracy. For C2H2, however, a known one-particle basis set deficiency for C-C multiple bonds significantly degrades the quality of results obtained from basis set extrapolation and in this case the R12 approach is clearly preferred over one-particle basis set extrapolation. The R12 approach used in the present study was modified in order to obtain high precision electronic energies, which are needed when computing a QFF. We also investigated including core-correlation explicitly in the R12 calculations, but conclude that current approaches are lacking. Hence core-correlation is computed as a correction using conventional methods. Considering the results for all four molecules, it is concluded that R12 methods will soon replace basis set extrapolation approaches for high accuracy electronic structure applications such as computing QFFs and spectroscopic data for comparison to high-resolution laboratory or astronomical observations, provided one uses a robust R12 method as we have done here. The specific R12 method used in the present study, CCSD(T)R12, incorporated a reformulation of one intermediate matrix in order to attain machine precision in the electronic energies. Final QFFs for N2H+ and NO2+ were computed, including basis set extrapolation, core-correlation, scalar relativity, and higher-order correlation and then used to compute highly accurate spectroscopic data for all isotopologues. Agreement with high-resolution experiment for 14N2H+ and 14N2D+ was excellent, but for 14N16O2+ agreement for the two stretching fundamentals is outside the expected residual uncertainty in the theoretical values, and it is concluded that there is an error in the experimental quantities. It is hoped that the highly accurate spectroscopic data presented for the minor isotopologues of N2H+ and NO2+ will be useful in the interpretation of future laboratory or astronomical observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UV photoirradiation of pyrimidine in pure H2O ices has been explored using second-order Mo\ller-Plesset perturbation theory and density functional theory methods, and compared with experimental results. Mechanisms studied include those starting with neutral pyrimidine or cationic pyrimidine radicals, and reacting with OH radical. The ab initio calculations reveal that the formation of some key species, including the nucleobase uracil, is energetically favored over others. The presence of one or several water molecules is necessary in order to abstract a proton which leads to the final products. Formation of many of the photoproducts in UV-irradiated H2O:pyrimidine=20:1 ice mixtures was established in a previous experimental study. Among all the products, uracil is predicted by quantum chemical calculations to be the most favored, and has been identified in experimental samples by two independent chromatography techniques. The results of the present study strongly support the scenario in which prebiotic molecules, such as the nucleobase uracil, can be formed under abiotic processes in astrophysically relevant environments, namely in condensed phase on the surface of icy, cold grains before being delivered to the telluric planets, like Earth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of high-quality, purely ab initio, quartic force fields (QFFs), computed using a procedure we recently proposed, is reported for NH2- and CCH-. The singles and doubles coupled-cluster method with a perturbational estimate of the effects of connected triple excitations, denoted CCSD(T), was used with TZ, QZ, and 5Z quality basis sets and was combined with extrapolation to the one-particle basis-set limit, core-correlation effects, scalar relativistic effects, and higher-order correlation effects to yield accurate QFFs. A “best-guess” reference geometry was determined at the CCSD(T)/5Z level of theory. Analytical transformation removes nonzero gradients to facilitate a second-order perturbation theory spectroscopic analysis. The QFF is transformed into Morse/cosine coordinates in order to perform exact vibrational configuration interaction computations. Equilibrium structures, vibrational frequencies, rotational constants, and selected spectroscopic constants are reported in comparison with experimental values and previous theoretical studies. Higher-order correlation effects are found comparable to core-correlation effects in magnitude, e.g., ∼10 cm-1 for fundamentals, but are of opposite sign. For CCH-, a thorough discussion is presented on effective rotational constants B0. It is concluded that the “best” QFF should incorporate all the small corrections mentioned above. Correspondingly, the best vibrational fundamentals of CCH- are estimated at 502.0 cm-1 (ν2), 1800.9 cm-1 (ν3), and 3204.3 cm-1 (ν1), while the best vibrational fundamentals of NH2- are at 3118.5 cm-1 (ν1), 1447.8 cm-1 (ν2), and 3186.5 cm-1 (ν3). Excellent agreement with high-resolution experiments has been obtained for fundamentals—e.g., 1–3 cm-1 deviation for the symmetric and antisymmetric stretches of NH2-, 3121.93 cm-1 (ν1) and 3190.29 cm-1 (ν3), respectively. Isotopic effects are studied and presented to aid future experimental analyses. The present study should facilitate future characterizations of NH2- and CCH- from astronomical observations or other high-resolution laboratory studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the interstellar medium (ISM) there are many regions where the formation of molecules is kinetically driven rather than thermochemically, which can lead to the formation of many isomers even though some may be fairly higher in energy relative to the molecular global minimum. Recent laboratory experiments where noble gas cations are reacted with pyrimidine favored the formation of C3H3N+, but the molecular structure(s) of this fragment was not determined. Microscopic reversibility means that pyrimidine could form under interstellar conditions should the required C3H3N+ reactant be detected in the ISM. Hence C3H3N+ could be a strong candidate for involvement in the formation of heterocyclic biomolecules such as pyrimidine in the ISM. In this study, we have investigated the low energy isomers of the acrylonitrile ion (C3H3N+) using density functional theory as well as high levels of ab initio theory, namely, the singles and doubles coupled-cluster theory that includes a perturbational correction for connected triple excitations, denoted as CCSD(T). An automated stochastic search procedure, Kick, has been employed to find isomers on the ground state doublet potential energy surface. Several new structures, along with all the previously reported minima, have been found. The global minimum H2CCCNH+ is energetically much lower than either H2CC(H)CN+, the acrylonitrile ion, or HCC(H)NCH+, the most likely intermediate of the reaction between HCCH+ and HCN. These isomers are connected to the global minimum via several transition states and intermediates. The results indicate that not only the global minimum but also several higher energy isomers of the C3H3N+ ion could be important in interstellar pyrimidine formation. The isomeric molecules have the necessary CCNC backbone needed for the reaction with HCN to form the cyclic pyrimidine framework. The structural and rotational parameters of all the isomers studied in this work have been predicted at the CCSD(T) level of theory with the anticipation that it will expedite their laboratory as well as astronomical identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A global potential energy surface (PES) that includes short and long range terms has been determined for the NH3 molecule. The singles and doubles coupled-cluster method that includes a perturbational estimate of connected triple excitations and the internally contracted averaged coupled-pair functional electronic structure methods have been used in conjunction with very large correlation-consistent basis sets, including diffuse functions. Extrapolation to the one-particle basis set limit was performed and core correlation and scalar relativistic contributions were included directly, while the diagonal Born–Oppenheimer correction was added. Our best purely ab initio PES, denoted “mixed,” is constructed from two PESs which differ in whether the ic-ACPF higher-order correlation correction was added or not. Rovibrational transition energies computed from the mixed PES agree well with experiment and the best previous theoretical studies, but most importantly the quality does not deteriorate even up to 10 300 cm-1 above the zero-point energy (ZPE). The mixed PES was improved further by empirical refinement using the most reliable J=0–2 rovibrational transitions in the HITRAN 2004 database. Agreement between high-resolution experiment and rovibrational transition energies computed from our refined PES for J=0–6 is excellent. Indeed, the root mean square (rms) error for 13 HITRAN 2004 bands for J=0–2 is 0.023 cm-1 and that for each band is always ≤=0.06 cm-1. For J=3–5 the rms error is always ≤=0.15 cm-1. This agreement means that transition energies computed with our refined PES should be useful in the assignment of new high-resolution NH3 spectra and in correcting mistakes in previous assignments. Ideas for further improvements to our refined PES and for extension to other isotopolog are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A procedure for the calculation of molecular quartic force fields (QFFs) is proposed and investigated. The goal is to generate highly accurate ab initio QFFs that include many of the so-called “small” effects that are necessary to achieve high accuracy. The small effects investigated in the present study include correlation of the core electrons (core correlation), extrapolation to the one-particle basis set limit, correction for scalar relativistic contributions, correction for higher-order correlation effects, and inclusion of diffuse functions in the one-particle basis set. The procedure is flexible enough to allow for some effects to be computed directly, while others may be added as corrections. A single grid of points is used and is centered about an initial reference geometry that is designed to be as close as possible to the final ab initio equilibrium structure (with all effects included). It is shown that the least-squares fit of the QFF is not compromised by the added corrections, and the balance between elimination of contamination from higher-order force constants while retaining energy differences large enough to yield meaningful quartic force constants is essentially unchanged from the standard procedures we have used for many years. The initial QFF determined from the least-squares fit is transformed to the exact minimum in order to eliminate gradient terms and allow for the use of second-order perturbation theory for evaluation of spectroscopic constants. It is shown that this step has essentially no effect on the quality of the QFF largely because the initial reference structure is, by design, very close to the final ab initio equilibrium structure. The procedure is used to compute an accurate, purely ab initio QFF for the H2O molecule, which is used as a benchmark test case. The procedure is then applied to the ground and first excited electronic states of the HO2+ molecular cation. Fundamental vibrational frequencies and spectroscopic constants from these highly accurate QFFs are compared and contrasted with previous experiment and theory. It is concluded that the spectroscopic constants determined for the X3A″ and A1A′ states of HO2+ are the most accurately available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harmonic and anharmonic vibrational frequencies, as well as infrared and Raman intensities, are calculated for MgSO[sub 4]·nH[sub 2]O (n = 1-3). Electronic structure theory at the second order MollerPlesset perturbation theory level with a triple-ζ+polarization basis set is used to determine the geometry, energetics, charge distributions, and vibrational spectra of pure and hydrated MgSO[sub 4] salts. The direct vibrational self-consistent field method and its correlation corrected extension are used to determine anharmonic corrections to vibrational frequencies and infrared intensities for the pure MgSO[sub 4] and its complex with one water molecule. Very significant differences are found between vibrational spectra of water molecules in complexes with MgSO[sub 4] and pure water. Some of the O-H stretching frequencies are shifted to the red very significantly (by up to 2000 cm[sup -1]) upon complexation with magnesium sulfate. They should be observed between 1700 and 3000 cm[sup -1], in a region very different from the corresponding O-H stretch frequency region of pure water (3700-3800 cm[sup -1]). In addition, the SO[sub 2] stretching vibrations are found at lower frequency regions than the water vibrations. They can serve as unique identifiers for the presence of sulfate salts. The predicted infrared and Raman spectra should be of valuable help in the design of future missions and analysis of observed data from the ice surface of Jupiter's moon Europa that possibly contains hydrated MgSO[sub 4] salts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) study on the electronic excitation energies of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon radical cations of naphthalene, anthracene, pyrene and perylene. Use of the Tamm-Dancoff approximation to TDDFT to calculate the electronic excitation energies and oscillator strengths.

The formalism for a relativistic open-shell CCSD(T) method is presented and implemented in a computer program, RELCCSD. The code can be used for calculations with 2- or 4-component relativistic reference wave functions and allows a full inclusion of the spin–orbit coupling. The code is interfaced to the MOLFDIR program system. We illustrate its use with ab initio calculations of the fine structure splittings of Cl, FO, ClO, O+2, and O-2. The triples correction is found to make a large contribution to the Cl atom splitting, which is within 23 cm-1, of the experimental value. The molecular results are within 4 cm-1 of the experimental values where these are available. The value for FO is predicted to be -195±4 cm-1, in good agreement with experiment. © 1996 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quartic force field of ethylene, C2H4, has been calculated ab initio using augmented coupled cluster, CCSD(T), methods and correlation consistent basis sets of spdf quality. For the 12C isotopomers C2H4, C2H3D, H2CCD2, cis-C2H2D2, trans-C2H2D2, C2HD3, and C2D4, all fundamentals are reproduced to better than 10 cm-1, except for three cases where the error is 11 cm-1. Our calculated harmonic frequencies suggest a thorough revision of the accepted experimentally derived values. Our computed and empirically corrected re geometry differs substantially from experimentally derived values: Both the predicted rz geometry and the ground-state rotational constants are, however, in excellent agreement with experiment, suggesting revision of the older values. Anharmonicity constants agree well with experiment for stretches, but differ substantially for stretch–bend interaction constants, due to equality constraints in the experimental analysis that do not hold. Improved criteria for detecting Fermi and Coriolis resonances are proposed and found to work well, contrary to the established method based on harmonic frequency differences that fails to detect several important resonances for C2H4 and its isotopomers. Surprisingly good results are obtained with a small spd basis at the CCSD(T) level. The well-documented strong basis set effect on the ν8 out-of-plane motion is present to a much lesser extent when correlation-optimized polarization functions are used. Complete sets of anharmonic, rovibrational coupling, and centrifugal distortion constants for the isotopomers are available as supplementary material to the paper via the World-Wide Web. © 1995 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A very accurate ab initio quartic force field for CH4 and its isotopomers is presented. The quartic force field was determined with the singles and doubles coupled-cluster procedure that includes a quasiperturbative estimate of the effects of connected triple excitations, CCSD(T), using the correlation consistent polarized valence triple zeta, cc-pVTZ, basis set. Improved quadratic force constants were evaluated with the correlation consistent polarized valence quadruple zeta, cc-pVQZ, basis set. Fundamental vibrational frequencies are determined using second-order perturbation theory anharmonic analyses. All fundamentals of CH4 and isotopomers for which accurate experimental values exist and for which there is not a large Fermi resonance, are predicted to within ±6 cm-1. It is thus concluded that our predictions for the harmonic frequencies and the anharmonic constants are the most accurate estimates available. It is also shown that using cubic and quartic force constants determined with the correlation consistent polarized double zeta, cc-pVDZ, basis set in conjunction with the cc-pVQZ quadratic force constants and equilibrium geometry leads to accurate predictions for the fundamental vibrational frequencies of methane, suggesting that this approach may be a viable alternative for larger molecules. Using CCSD(T), core correlation is found to reduce the CH4 re by 0.0015 Å. Our best estimate for re is 1.0862±0.0005 Å. © 1995 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An accurate ab initio quartic force field for HNO has been determined using the singles and doubles coupled-cluster method that includes a perturbational estimate of the effects of connected triple excitations, CCSD(T), in conjunction with the correlation consistent polarized valence triple zeta (cc-pVTZ) basis set. Improved harmonic frequencies were determined with the cc-pVQZ basis set. Fundamental vibrational frequencies were determined using a second-order perturbation theory analysis and also using variational calculations. The N–O stretch and bending fundamentals are determined well from both vibrational analyses. The H–N stretch, however, is shown to have an unusually large anharmonic correction, and is not well determined using second-order perturbation theory. The H–N fundamental is well determined from the variational calculations, demonstrating the quality of the ab initio quartic force field. The zero-point energy of HNO that should be used in isodesmic reactions is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By representing orbital products in an expansion basis, certain classes of two-electron integrals are approximated for use in CCSD(T) calculations (singles and doubles coupled-cluster plus a perturbational estimate of the effects of connected triple excitations). This leads to a very large reduction in disk storage and input/output requirements, with usually only a modest increase in computational effort. The new procedure will allow very large CCSD(T) calculations to be undertaken, limited only by available processor time. Using the molecular basis as the expansion basis, explicit numerical comparisons of equilibrium geometries, harmonic frequencies, and energy differences indicate that the error due to the use of approximate integrals is less than the error associated with truncation of the molecular basis set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study is presented of the various recently developed open-shell perturbation theories that are based on a restricted Hartree–Fock reference wave function. Included in this study are issues concerning spin contamination, implementational considerations, and numerical comparisons at the second-order of perturbation theory for equilibrium geometries, vibrational frequencies, and singlet–triplet energy differences. Based on all of these considerations, it is concluded that the z-averaged perturbation theory (ZAPT) method is to be preferred over the other recently devised spin–orbital perturbation theories, while the spin-free OPT2 method possesses some advantages and disadvantages relative to the ZAPT method. In particular, it is shown that OPT2 energies are not invariant to rotations among singly-occupied degenerate molecular orbitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Singles and doubles coupled-cluster (CCSD) theory and the CCSD(T) method, CCSD plus a perturbational estimate of the effects of connected triple excitations, have been used to determine the equilibrium structures, dipole moment, vibrational frequencies, and infrared intensities of the HNO, FNO, and ClNO species. A double polarized triple-zeta (TZ2P) quality basis set was used. The CCSD(T) results are found to be in very good agreement with experiment, indicating that the CCSD(T) method performs well in describing the weak X–NO single bond. The experimental heats of formation of the FNO, and ClNO species are examined for internal consistency with experimental data for FNO2 and ClNO2, by using an isodesmic reaction. It is concluded that the experimental data exhibit a small inconsistency. An approach, involving in addition the use of homodesmic reactions, by which a more consistent set of thermochemical data may be obtained is proposed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient formulation of our recently proposed [Chem. Phys. Lett. 199, 211 (1992)] open-shell singles and doubles coupled-cluster (OCCSD) method is presented. This formulation is in terms of spatial orbital one- and two-electron integrals. Our new OCCSD method is based on ‘‘symmetric spin orbitals’’ and is thus symmetric (or antisymmetric) in the spin indices. It therefore contains about half the number of independent parameters in the coupled-cluster wave function compared to other open-shell CCSD methods. It is shown that the formulation presented here contains less than half the number of n6 steps (where n is the number of molecular orbitals) of other recently proposed open-shell CCSD methods. A new approach by which amplitudes in our method may be compared with amplitudes in a previous OCCSD method is examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protonation of N2O and the intramolecular proton transfer in N2OH+ have been studied using large basis sets in conjunction with second-order many-body perturbation theory (MP2), singles and doubles coupled cluster (CCSD), the augmented coupled cluster method [CCSD(T)], and complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) methods. It is shown that MP2 is inadequate even for HNNO+, which has a minor nondynamical correlation effect; for the transition state only CCSD(T) produces a reliable geometry due to serious nondynamical correlation effects. Harmonic frequencies accurate to 50 cm-1 or better are predicted for both protonated species. The proton affinity at 298.15 K is found to be 137.6 kcal/mol, in excellent agreement with the recent experimental redetermination of 137.3±1 kcal/mol; the HNNO+ isomer is found to be 4.4 kcal/mol above the HONN+ isomer, with an interconversion barrier of ∼89 kcal/mol, herewith confirming recent experimental evidence that both species occur together with an energy difference of 6±1.5 kcal/mol. Comparison of the traditional double-zeta plus polarization (DZP) basis and the newer correlation consistent polarized valence double zeta (cc-pVDZ) basis set appears to indicate that the latter might lead to more accurate geometries and harmonic frequencies, although a more detailed investigation would be needed before any definitive conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quartic force field of ammonia is computed using basis sets of spdf/spd and spdfg/spdf quality and an augmented coupled cluster method. After correcting for Fermi resonance, the computed fundamentals and ν4 overtones agree on average to better than 3 cm-1 with the experimental ones except for ν2. The discrepancy for ν2 is principally due to higher-order anharmonicity effects. The computed ω1, ω3, and ω4 confirm the recent experimental determination by Lehmann and Coy but are associated with smaller error bars. The discrepancy between the computed and experimental ω2 is far outside the expected error range, which is also attributed to higher-order anharmonicity effects not accounted for in the experimental determination. Spectroscopic constants are predicted for a number of symmetric and asymmetric top isotopomers of NH3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lowest 1Σ+ and 3Π states of the BN molecule have been studied using multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) and averaged coupled-pair functional (ACPF) methods and large atomic natural orbital (ANO) basis sets, as well as several coupled cluster methods. Our best calculations strongly support a 3Π ground state, but the a 1Σ+ state lies only 381±100 cm-1 higher. The a 1Σ+ state wave function exhibits strong multireference character and, consequently, the predictions of the perturbationally-based single-reference CCSD(T) coupled cluster method are not as reliable in this case as the multireference results. The best theoretical predictions for the spectroscopic constants of BN are in good agreement with experiment for the X 3Π state, but strongly suggest a misassignment of the fundamental vibrational frequency for the a 1Σ+ state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three lowest-lying isomers of Cl2O2 have been investigated using state-of-the-art ab initio quantum-mechanical methods. Electron correlation methods that have been used include second-order Mo\ller–Plesset perturbation theory, singles and doubles coupled-cluster (CCSD) theory, and the CCSD(T) method, which incorporates a perturbational estimate of the effects of connected triple excitations. Accurate relative energies have been obtained using the CCSD(T) method in conjunction with large atomic natural orbital basis sets that include up to g-type functions. Our best estimate is that the ClClO2 and ClOClO isomers lie 0.9±2.0 and 10.1±4.0 kcal/mol higher in energy (0 K), respectively, than the more stable ClOOCl peroxide form. In order to obtain accurate equilibrium geometries it is necessary to include f-type functions in the one-particle basis set. The vibrational spectra (including IR intensities) of all three isomers are computed and compared with experimental data for ClOOCl and ClClO2. The theoretical and experimental vibrational frequencies agree very well except for the symmetric combination of Cl–O stretches in ClOOCl, where it is concluded that the experimental band is most likely due to the antisymmetric Cl–O stretch. The heat of formation of ClOOCl is computed using an isodesmic reaction involving Cl2O, H2O, and HOOH, and determined to be 34.2 kcal/mol (0 K). The largest uncertainty in this value is due to potential errors in the experimental heat of formation of Cl2O. Using the experimental heat of formation of ClO, the dissociation energy of ClOOCl relative to 2 ClO is computed to be 14.9 kcal/mol at 298 K. The equilibrium structures and vibrational spectra of Cl2O, H2O, and HOOH from our highest-level calculations are found to be in excellent agreement with the available experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The equilibrium structures, vibrational spectra, and relative energetics of the FNO2, cis-FONO, and trans-FONO isomers have been investigated using high-levels of ab initio theory. These methods include second-order Mo\ller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2), singles and doubles coupled-cluster (CCSD) theory, and the CCSD(T) method, which incorporates a perturbational estimate of the effects of connected triple excitations. FNO2 is determined to be 36.9±2.5 kcal/mol (0 K) more stable than cis-FONO, which is more stable than trans-FONO by 2.5±1.0 kcal/mol (0 K). The molecular structure of cis-FONO is shown to have typical F–O and central O–N single bond distances, indicating that cis-FONO has a structure analogous to HONO. The computed vibrational spectrum of cis-FONO is shown to be consistent with infrared matrix isolation experiments, including isotopic shifts. The experimentally deduced structure of FONO (based on a normal coordinate analysis), however, is shown to be incorrect because one of the vibrational bands included in the normal coordinate analysis is either a combination band or an overtone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The equilibrium structures, dipole moments, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and infrared intensities of NH3, FON, Be3, BeC2, and BeO2 have been determined using the coupled-cluster and Brueckner electron correlation methods. The singles and doubles coupled-cluster (CCSD) and the Brueckner doubles (BD) methods have been employed and the corresponding methods that include a perturbational estimate of connected triple excitations [i.e., CCSD(T) and BD(T)] have also been investigated. The T1 diagnostic [Int. J. Quantum Chem. Symp. 23, 199 (1989)] is found to provide a good indication of the magnitude of the difference between the results obtained with the coupled-cluster and Brueckner methods. For NH3, the T1 diagnostic is small and so the differences between results obtained from coupled-cluster and Brueckner theories are quite small. For the other four molecules the T1 diagnostic is larger, and so the differences between the coupled-cluster and Brueckner methods become larger. However, it is found for all of the molecules considered in this study that inclusion of the contribution from connected triple excitations is more important than the differences between the Brueckner and coupled-cluster correlation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analytic energy gradient for the single and double excitation coupled-cluster (CCSD) wave function has been reformulated and implemented in a new set of programs. The reformulated set of gradient equations have a smaller computational cost than any previously published. The iterative solution of the linear equations and the construction of the effective density matrices are fully vectorized, being based on matrix multiplications. The new method has been used to investigate the Cl2O2 molecule, which has recently been postulated as an important intermediate in the destruction of ozone in the stratosphere. In addition to reporting computational timings, the CCSD equilibrium geometries, harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities, and relative energetics of three isomers of Cl2O2 are presented. The relative energies of the three isomers are further investigated using large atomic natural orbital basis sets in conjunction with the CCSD(T) method, which includes a perturbational estimate of connected triple excitations. The peroxide form of Cl2O2 is predicted to be the lowest energy isomer with the ClClO2 form lying 5.1±3.5 kcal/mol higher in energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient formulation of the analytic energy gradient for the single and double excitation coupled-cluster method that includes a perturbational estimate of the effects of connected triple excitations, denoted CCSD(T), is presented. The formulation presented here has a smaller computational cost than any previous formulation, and the algebraic manipulations that lead to the additional savings may be applied generally to the analytic gradient of Mo\ller–Plesset perturbation theory energies. The energy contribution from connected triple excitations scales as n3on4v+n4on3v, and the additional work needed for the gradient scales as 2n3on4v+2n4[ATOTHER]@[/ATOTHER]in3v, where no is the number of doubly occupied orbitals and nv is the number of unoccupied orbitals. The new formulation has been implemented in an efficient set of programs that utilize highly vectorized algorithms and has been used to investigate the equilibrium structures, harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities, and energy separation of cis- and trans-HONO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tetrahedral (Td) form of the N4 molecule has been investigated via ab initio quantum mechanical methods. The lowest triplet state of N4 in the tetrahedral region of the potential energy surface, and the barrier separating TdN4 from two N2 molecules have also been examined. Both the transition state and 3A‘ state have Cs symmetry. The singlet state of tetrahedral N4 is predicted to lie 13 kcal/mol below the 3A‘ state. The energy difference between TdN4 and two N2 molecules is accurately determined to be 186 kcal/mol while the barrier separating these species is found to be about 61 kcal/mol. The possibility that TdN4 may be used as a high energy density fuel is investigated and discussed. In addition, a highly accurate determination of the equilibrium structure, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and infrared intensities of TdN4 has been performed using large atomic natural orbital (ANO) basis sets in conjunction with the coupled-cluster single and double (CCSD) excitation level of theory and the CCSD(T) extension. The largest ANO basis sets used for N4 contain f-type functions. Analogous studies of the N2 molecule are presented in order to judge the reliability of the theoretical predictions for the experimentally unknown TdN4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The equilibrium geometries, binding energies, and harmonic frequencies of Mg3 and Mg4 have been determined using large atomic natural orbital basis sets in conjunction with high levels of electron correlation. The correlation treatments comprise multireference configuration interaction (MRCI), singles and doubles coupled-cluster (CCSD) theory and the CCSD(T) extension that includes a perturbational estimate of connected triple excitations. As with our previous studies of small Be clusters, the CCSD(T) method is found to reproduce the MRCI results with a remarkable degree of accuracy and at a fraction of the computational cost. Using the CCSD(T) method, full quartic force fields for Mg3 and Mg4 have been determined and anharmonic analyses have been performed using second-order perturbation theory. Vibration–rotation interaction constants and centrifugal distortion constants have also been determined. The fundamental vibrational frequencies are predicted to occur at ν1 (a’1)=96 and ν2 (e’)=104 cm-1 for Mg3, and ν1 (a1)=184, ν2 (e)=143, and ν3 (t2)=167 cm-1 for Mg4. Infrared (IR) intensities, evaluated for the IR active modes via the double harmonic approximation, are 0.2 and 2.4 km/mol for the e’ (Mg3) and t2 (Mg4) modes, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron correlation energies have been determined for 14 different molecules which represent a range of chemical bonding situations. These have been determined with the coupled-cluster single, double, and triple (CCSDT) excitation model as well as with several coupled-cluster methods that include only an approximate treatment of connected triple excitations, viz. CCSDT-1a, CCSDT-1b, CCSDT-2, CCSDT-3, CCSDT-4, and the recently proposed CCSD(T) method. All of the CCSDT-x methods include the effects of connected triple excitations in an iterative manner, whereas in CCSDT(T) these are included perturbationally. For chemical systems which are well represented by a single-determinant reference function, some of the CCSDT-xmethods (CCSDT-1a, CCSDT-1b, and CCSDT-4) perform marginally better than the CCSD(T) approach in reproducing the CCSDT results. However, as nondynamical correlation becomes more important the good agreement from the CCSDT-x methods deteriorates rapidly, while the error in CCSD(T) remains more consistent. For the 14 molecules considered in this work, the average error of the CCSD(T) method relative to CCSDT (667 μhartrees) is considerably below that obtained from any of the CCSDT-x methods. It is concluded that CCSD(T) is to be preferred over any of the other approximate methods, both because it is the least expensive and also because it is generally the most accurate approximation to CCSDT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]