Analysis of experimental spectra of phosphine in the Tetradecad range near 2.3 µm using ab initio calculations.

Due to its major interest for the chemistry of planetary atmospheres and exobiology, accurate spectroscopy data of phosphine are required for the search of signatures of this molecule in astronomical observations. In this work, high resolution infrared laboratory spectra of phosphine were analyzed for the first time in the full Tetradecad region (3769-4763 cm-1) involving 26 rotationally resolved bands. Overall, 3242 lines were assigned in spectra previously recorded by Fourier transform spectroscopy at temperatures 200 K and 296 K, using a combined theoretical model based on ab initio calculations. The total nuclear motion Hamiltonian of PH3 including ab initio potential energy surface, was reduced to an effective Hamiltonian using the high-order contact transformation method adapted to vibrational polyads of the AB3 symmetric top molecules, followed by empirical optimization of the parameters. At this step, the experimental line positions were reproduced with a standard deviation of 0.0026 cm-1 that provided unambiguous identification of observed transitions. The effective dipole transition moments of the bands were obtained by fitting to the intensities obtained from variational calculations using the ab initio dipole moment surface. The assigned lines were used to newly determine 1609 experimental vibration-rotational levels up to Jmax = 18 with energy in the range 3896-6037 cm-1 that represents significant extension towards higher energies compared to previous works. Transitions for all 26 sublevels of the Tetradecad were identified but with noticeably fewer transitions for fourfold excited bands because of their weaker intensity. At the final step, pressure-broadened half widths were attached to each transition and a composite line list adopting ab initio intensities and empirical line positions corrected to the accuracy of about 0.001 cm-1 for strong and medium transitions was validated against experimental spectra available in the literature.

Ab initio predictions and laboratory validation for consistent ozone intensities in the MW, 10 and 5 µm ranges.

Reliable ozone spectral data consistent over several spectral ranges are a challenge for both experiment and theory. We present ab initio calculations for strong lines that lead to consistent results from the microwave to mid-infrared regions. The results agree well with established microwave line lists and our new measurements in the fundamental and first overtone regions of ozone at 5 and 10 µm. The calculations and their agreement to within 1% with measurements provide an important step toward consistent and accurate spectroscopic ozone data. The results imply that actual databases need to be corrected by about 3% in the corresponding mid-infrared spectral intervals. Appropriate recommendations for the consistency of strong line intensities of the ozone molecule in microwave, 10 and 5 µm ranges, in HITRAN (HIgh-resolution TRANsmittance and molecular apbsorption) and GEISA (Gestion et Etude des Informations Spectroscopiques Atmosphériques) databases are suggested.

Full-Dimensional Potential Energy and Dipole Moment Surfaces of GeH4 Molecule and Accurate First-Principle Rotationally Resolved Intensity Predictions in the Infrared.

Nine-dimensional potential energy surface (PES) and dipole moment surface (DMS) of the germane molecule are constructed using extended ab initio CCSD(T) calculations at 19 882 points. PES analytical representation is determined as an expansion in nonlinear symmetry adapted products of orthogonal and internal coordinates involving 340 parameters up to eighth order. Minor empirical refinement of the equilibrium geometry and of four quadratic parameters of the PES computed at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVQZ-DK level of the theory yielded the accuracy below 1 cm-1 for all experimentally known vibrational band centers of five stable isotopologues of 70GeH4, 72GeH4, 73GeH4, 74GeH4, and 76GeH4 up to 8300 cm-1. The optimized equilibrium bond re = 1.517 594 Šis very close to best ab initio values. Rotational energies up to J = 15 are calculated using potential expansion in normal coordinate tensors with maximum errors of 0.004 and 0.0006 cm-1 for 74GeH4 and 76GeH4. The DMS analytical representation is determined through an expansion in symmetry-adapted products of internal nonlinear coordinates involving 967 parameters up to the sixth order. Vibration-rotation line intensities of five stable germane isotopologues were calculated from purely ab initio DMS using nuclear motion variational calculations with a full account of the tetrahedral symmetry of the molecules. For the first time a good overall agreement of main absorption features with experimental rotationally resolved Pacific Northwest National Laboratory spectra was achieved in the entire range of 700-5300 cm-1. It was found that very accurate description of state-dependent isotopic shifts is mandatory to correctly describe complex patterns of observed spectra at natural isotopic abundance resulting from the superposition of five stable isotopologues. The data obtained in this work will be made available through the TheoReTS information system.

An efficient method for energy levels calculation using full symmetry and exact kinetic energy operator: tetrahedral molecules.

A simultaneous use of the full molecular symmetry and of an exact kinetic energy operator (KEO) is of key importance for accurate predictions of vibrational levels at a high energy range from a potential energy surface (PES). An efficient method that permits a fast convergence of variational calculations would allow iterative optimization of the PES parameters using experimental data. In this work, we propose such a method applied to tetrahedral AB4 molecules for which a use of high symmetry is crucial for vibrational calculations. A symmetry-adapted contracted angular basis set for six redundant angles is introduced. Simple formulas using this basis set for explicit calculation of the angular matrix elements of KEO and PES are reported. The symmetric form (six redundant angles) of vibrational KEO without the sin(q)(-2) type singularity is derived. The efficient recursive algorithm based on the tensorial formalism is used for the calculation of vibrational matrix elements. A good basis set convergence for the calculations of vibrational levels of the CH4 molecule is demonstrated.

Does the "reef structure" at the ozone transition state towards the dissociation exist? New insight from calculations and ultrasensitive spectroscopy experiments.

Since the discovery of anomalies in ozone isotope enrichment, several fundamental issues in the dynamics linked to the shape of the potential energy surface in the transition state region have been raised. The role of the reeflike structure on the minimum energy path is an intricate question previously discussed in the context of chemical experiments. In this Letter, we bring strong arguments in favor of the absence of a submerged barrier from ultrasensitive laser spectroscopy experiments combined with accurate predictions of highly excited vibrations up to nearly 95% of the dissociation threshold.

The near infrared spectrum of ozone by CW-cavity ring down spectroscopy between 5850 and 7000 cm(-1): new observations and exhaustive review.

Weak vibrational bands of (16)O(3) could be detected in the 5850-7030 cm(-1) spectral region by CW-cavity ring down spectroscopy using a set of fibered DFB diode lasers. As a result of the high sensitivity (noise equivalent absorption alpha(min) approximately 3 x 10(-10) cm(-1)), bands reaching a total of 16 upper vibrational states have been previously reported in selected spectral regions. In the present report, the analysis of the whole investigated region is completed by new recordings in three spectral regions which have allowed: (i) a refined analysis of the nu(1) + 3nu(2) + 3nu(3) band from new spectra in the 5850-5900 cm(-1) region; (ii) an important extension of the assignments of the 2nu(1)+5nu(3) and 4nu(1) + 2nu(2) + nu(3) bands in the 6500-6600 cm(-1) region, previously recorded by frequency modulation diode laser spectroscopy. The rovibrational assignments of the weak 4nu(1) + 2nu(2) + nu(3) band were fully confirmed by the new observation of the 4nu(1) + 2nu(2) + nu(3)- nu(2) hot band near 5866.9 cm(-1) reaching the same upper state; (iii) the observation and modelling of three A-type bands at 6895.51, 6981.87 and 6990.07 cm(-1) corresponding to the highest excited vibrational bands of ozone detected so far at high resolution. The upper vibrational states were assigned by comparison of their energy values with calculated values obtained from the ground state potential energy surface of (16)O(3). The vibrational mixing and consequently the ambiguities in the vibrational labelling are discussed. For each band or set of interacting bands, the spectroscopic parameters were determined from a fit of the corresponding line positions in the frame of the effective Hamiltonian (EH) model. A set of selected absolute line intensities was measured and used to derive the parameters of the effective transition moment operator. The exhaustive review of the previous observations gathered with the present results is presented and discussed. It leads to a total number of 3863 energy levels belonging to 21 vibrational states and corresponding to 7315 transitions. In the considered spectral region corresponding to up to 82% of the dissociation energy, the increasing importance of the "dark" states is illustrated by the occurrence of frequent rovibrational perturbations and the observation of many weak lines still unassigned.

Adiabatic and non-adiabatic corrections to rovibrational energies of diatomic molecules: variational calculations with experimental accuracy.

Using the variational technique, eigensolutions of the radial Herman-Asgharian equation accounting for non-adiabatic terms are determined within the experimental accuracy of the high-resolution spectroscopy. This method, which is independent of the algebraic and numerical approaches currently used in the literature for a "direct-potential-fit" of diatomic rovibrational spectra, is shown to be useful for validation of available calculations and for resolving some controversial issues. Comparative discussions are reported in this paper for a dozen diatomic molecules.

Analysis of High-Resolution Spectra of (18)O(3).

Using a Fourier transform spectrometer, we have recorded the spectra of the (18)O(3) species of ozone in the region 1300-3100 cm(-1), with a resolution of 0.003 cm(-1). The large product pathlength x pressure enable us to record 18 bands, 14 for the first time. The analysis has been performed using effective Hamiltonians for polyads of strongly interacting states for ozone, accounting for Coriolis and anharmonic resonances. The spectral parameters are derived for 16 vibrational states, including the two "dark" states (040) and (130). Various resonances are studied through the mixing coefficients of rovibrational wavefunctions. Systematic intensity measurements allow determination of transition moment parameters for 16 bands. Finally, a complete list of all transitions from 1300 to 3100 cm(-1), with cutoffs 10(-26) cm(-1)/mol cm(-2) (296 K), is calculated. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Analysis of High-Resolution Spectra of (18)O(3).

The analysis of high-resolution spectra of (18)O(3) is reported here for the range 3100-5000 cm(-1). Eight sets of polyads, corresponding to eight newly observed bands and accounting for resonance perturbations with eight other "dark" states, are analyzed for the first time. These analyses lead to eight sets of spectroscopic parameters, band centers, and rotational and centrifugal distortion constants, as well as transition moment parameters. In addition, various resonances are studied and compared to the similar ones for (16)O(3). This study allows us to check the work on (16)O(3) and to confirm that the accidentally strong high-order Deltav=8 anharmonic resonance for bands 5 nu(3)<-->3nu(1)+nu(2)+nu(3) was an exceptional case of the major isotopic species. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.