A combined experimental and computational study on the transition of the calcium isopropoxide radical as a candidate for direct laser cooling.

Vibronically resolved laser-induced fluorescence/dispersed fluorescence (LIF/DF) and cavity ring-down (CRD) spectra of the electronic transition of the calcium isopropoxide [CaOCH(CH3)2] radical have been obtained under jet-cooled conditions. An essentially constant energy separation of 68 cm-1 has been observed for the vibrational ground levels and all fundamental vibrational levels accessed in the LIF measurement. To simulate the experimental spectra and assign the recorded vibronic bands, Franck-Condon (FC) factors and vibrational branching ratios (VBRs) are predicted from vibrational modes and their frequencies calculated using the complete-active-space self-consistent field (CASSCF) and equation-of-motion coupled-cluster singles and doubles (EOM-CCSD) methods. Combined with the calculated electronic transition energy, the computational results, especially those from the EOM-CCSD calculations, reproduced the experimental spectra with considerable accuracy. The experimental and computational results suggest that the FC matrix for the studied electronic transition is largely diagonal, but transitions from the vibrationless levels of the à state to the X̃-state levels of the CCC bending (ν14 and ν15), CaO stretch (ν13), and CaOC asymmetric stretch (ν9 and ν11) modes also have considerable intensities. Transitions to low-frequency in-plane [ν17(a')] and out-of-plane [ν30(a'')] CaOC bending modes were observed in the experimental LIF/DF spectra, the latter being FC-forbidden but induced by the pseudo-Jahn-Teller (pJT) effect. Both bending modes are coupled to the CaOC asymmetric stretch mode via the Duschinsky rotation, as demonstrated in the DF spectra obtained by pumping non-origin vibronic transitions. The pJT interaction also induces transitions to the ground-state vibrational level of the ν10(a') mode, which has the CaOC bending character. Our combined experimental and computational results provide critical information for future direct laser cooling of the target molecule and other alkaline earth monoalkoxide radicals.

Electronic spectroscopy of the A1̃2A''/A2̃2A'-X̃2A' transitions of jet-cooled calcium ethoxide radicals: Vibronic structure of alkaline earth monoalkoxide radicals of Cs symmetry.

Laser-induced fluorescence/dispersed fluorescence (LIF/DF) and cavity ring-down spectra of the A1̃2A''/A2̃2A'-X̃2A' electronic transition of the calcium ethoxide (CaOC2H5) radical have been obtained under jet-cooled conditions. An essentially constant Ã2-Ã1 energy separation for different vibronic levels is observed in the LIF spectrum, which is attributed to both the spin-orbit (SO) interaction and non-relativistic effects. Electronic transition energies, vibrational frequencies, and spin-vibrational eigenfunctions calculated using the coupled-cluster method, along with results from previous complete active space self-consistent field calculations, have been used to predict the vibronic energy level structure and simulate the recorded LIF/DF spectra. Although the vibrational frequencies and Franck-Condon (FC) factors calculated under the Born-Oppenheimer approximation and the harmonic oscillator approximation reproduce the dominant spectral features well, the inclusion of the pseudo-Jahn-Teller (pJT) and SO interactions, especially those between the A1̃2A″/A2̃2A' and the B̃2A' states, induces additional vibronic transitions and significantly improves the accuracy of the spectral simulations. Notably, the spin-vibronic interactions couple vibronic levels and alter transition intensities. The calculated FC matrix for the A1̃2A''/A2̃2A'-X̃2A' transition contains a number of off-diagonal matrix elements that connect the vibrational ground levels to the levels of the ν8 (CO stretch), ν11 (OCC bending), ν12 (CaO stretch), ν13 (in-plane CaOC bending), and ν21 (out-of-plane CaOC bending) modes, which are used for vibrational assignments. Transitions to the ν21(a″) levels are allowed due to the pJT effect. Furthermore, when LIF transitions to the Ã-state levels of the CaOC-bending modes, ν13 and ν21, are pumped, A1̃2A''/A2̃2A'→X̃2A' transitions to the combination levels of these two modes with the ν8, ν11, and ν12 modes are also observed in the DF spectra due to the Duschinsky mixing. Implications of the present spectroscopic investigation to laser cooling of asymmetric-top molecules are discussed.

Aligning an optical cavity: with reference to cavity ring-down spectroscopy.

A procedure for timely, accurate, and reproducible alignment of an optical cavity is described.

Laser-induced fluorescence and dispersed-fluorescence spectroscopy of the Ã2E-X̃2A1 transition of jet-cooled calcium methoxide (CaOCH3) radicals.

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and dispersed fluorescence (DF) spectra of the Ã2E-X̃2A1 electronic transition of the calcium methoxide (CaOCH3) radical have been obtained under jet-cooled conditions. Complete active space self-consistent field and coupled-cluster calculations on the free radical were performed to aid the assignment of vibronic transitions observed in the LIF/DF spectra. In addition to dominant spectral features that are well reproduced by vibrational frequencies and Franck-Condon (FC) factors calculated ab initio, the FC matrix for the Ã2E-X̃2A1 electronic transition contains considerable off-diagonal elements that connect (i) the CaO-stretch (ν4) mode and non-CaO stretch modes and (ii) the asymmetric CaOC stretch (ν3) and the CaOC bending (ν8) modes. The Jahn-Teller and pseudo-Jahn-Teller interactions involving the Ã2E state as well as the spin-orbit interaction induce additional vibronic transitions that are not allowed under the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. Additionally, anharmonic vibrational terms in the ground state induce transitions that are forbidden in the harmonic-oscillator approximation. Spin-orbit splitting has been observed for several vibrational levels of the Ã2E state, and an essentially constant value was measured at all levels accessed in the LIF experiment. Implications of the present spectroscopic investigation to the proposed schemes of laser-cooling MOCH3 (M = alkaline earth metals) molecules and detection of time-reversal-symmetry-violating interactions are discussed.

Laser-Induced Fluorescence and Dispersed Fluorescence Spectroscopy of Jet-Cooled Isopentoxy Radicals.

The B̃-X̃ laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and dispersed fluorescence (DF) spectra of jet-cooled isopentoxy radicals have been obtained. The LIF spectrum of isopentoxy lacks strong transitions to the CO-stretch levels that are typical for alkoxy radicals. Instead, it contains two low-frequency vibrational progressions due to large-amplitude motions of the GG' and GG conformers involving torsion of the C1C2C3H dihedral angle. Other vibronic bands observed in the LIF spectrum are attributed to the TG conformer. Molecular carriers of the vibronic transitions in the LIF spectrum are identified by comparing the experimentally obtained spectrum and the simulated one. DF spectra of the GG and TG conformers are dominated by strong vibrational progressions of the CO-stretch mode when the origin or the CO-stretch band is pumped. When non-CO-stretch bands are pumped, the DF spectra are dominated by combination bands of the CO stretch and the pumped mode. Ã-X̃ separations of the GG and TG conformers were also determined from the DF spectra.

Direct Observation of Tetrahydrofuranyl and Tetrahydropyranyl Peroxy Radicals via Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy.

Room-temperature cavity ring-down (CRD) spectra of the à ← X̃ electronic transition of tetrahydrofuranyl peroxy (THFOO•) and tetrahydropyranyl peroxy (THPOO•) radicals were recorded. The peroxy radicals were produced by Cl-initiated oxidation of tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydropyran. Quantum chemical calculations of the lowest-energy conformers of all regioisomers of these two peroxy radicals have been carried out to aid the spectral simulation. Conformational identification and vibrational assignment were achieved by comparing the experimentally obtained spectra to the simulated ones. The absence of α-THPOO• absorption peaks in the CRD spectrum is attributed to ring opening due to its weak Cα'O bond.

Dispersed Fluorescence Spectroscopy of Jet-Cooled Isobutoxy and 2-Methyl-1-butoxy Radicals.

We report dispersed fluorescence (DF) spectra of the isobutoxy and 2-methyl-1-butoxy radicals produced by photolysis of corresponding nitrites in supersonic jet expansion. Different vibrational structures have been observed in the DF spectra when different vibronic bands in the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra of each radical were pumped, which suggests that those vibronic bands be assigned to different conformers. Spectra simulated using calculated vibrational frequencies and Franck-Condon factors well reproduce the experimentally observed ones and support the assignment of the vibronic bands in the LIF spectra to the two lowest-energy conformers of each radical. DF spectra obtained by pumping the B̃ ← X̃ origin bands of the LIF spectra are dominated by CO stretch progressions because of the large difference in CO bond length between the ground (X̃) and the second excited (B̃) electronic states. Furthermore, with non-CO stretch bands pumped, the DF spectra are dominated by progressions of combination bands of the CO stretch and the pumped modes as a result of Duschinsky mixing. Ã-X̃ separation of both conformers of the isobutoxy radical has also been determined in the experiment.