Quenching transitions for the rovibrational transitions of water: Ortho-H2O in collision with ortho- and para-H2.

We present here the first full computation of the rovibrational quenching of a polyatomic molecule (water) by a rotating molecular projectile (H2). The computation is performed for quenching from the first bending mode of water at ν ≃ 1595 cm-1 with a rotation energy of up to ∼400 cm-1 in the bending mode. Molecular hydrogen is in its para and ortho modifications; it is rotating with a rotational quantum number of up to 4 and 3, respectively. All computations are performed on a very reliable and fully tested potential water-hydrogen energy surface of full dimensionality. Dynamics is performed in the full coupled channel formalism in the rigid bender approximation with a decoupling of the water rotation and vibration bases. Rate coefficients are converged for a kinetic temperature range 50-500 K. The crucial importance of the proper treatment of the projectile rotation is emphasized with orders of magnitude differences between the different channels for the H2 rotation. Sensitivity to the actual rovibrational initial state of water exists but in a weaker manner. Overall quenching rate coefficients are about 10-12 cm3 s-1, remaining one to three orders of magnitude lower than pure rotational quenching. They should be employed to model denser and warmer astrophysical media, such as high atmospheres or star and planet forming regions, which are to be explored by infrared space telescopes, such as JWST.

Near-Threshold and Resonance Effects in Rotationally Inelastic Scattering of D2O with Normal-H2.

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study on the rotationally inelastic scattering of heavy water, D2O, with normal-H2. Crossed-molecular beam measurements are performed in the collision energy range between 10 and 100 cm-1, corresponding to the near-threshold regime in which scattering resonances are most pronounced. State-to-state excitation cross-sections are obtained by probing three low-lying rotational levels of D2O using the REMPI technique. These measurements are complemented by quantum close-coupling scattering calculations based on a high-accuracy D2O-H2 interaction potential. The agreement between experiment and theory is within the experimental error bars at 95% confidence intervals, leading to a relative difference of less than 7%: the near-threshold rise and the overall shape of the cross-sections, including small undulations due to resonances, are nicely reproduced by the calculations. Isotopic effects (D2O versus H2O) are also discussed by comparing the shape and magnitude of the respective cross-sections.

Quantum nature of molecular vibrational quenching: Water-molecular hydrogen collisions.

Rates of conversions of molecular internal energy to and from kinetic energy by means of molecular collision allow us to compute collisional line shapes and transport properties of gases. Knowledge of ro-vibrational quenching rates is necessary to connect spectral observations to physical properties of warm astrophysical gasses, including exo-atmospheres. For a system of paramount importance in this context, the vibrational bending mode quenching of H2O by H2, we show here that the exchange of vibrational to rotational and kinetic energy remains a quantum process, despite the large numbers of quantum levels involved and the large vibrational energy transfer. The excitation of the quantized rotor of the projectile is by far the most effective ro-vibrational quenching path of water. To do so, we use a fully quantum first-principles computation, potential and dynamics, converging it at all stages, in a full coupled channel formalism. We present here rates for the quenching of the first bending mode of ortho-H2O by ortho-H2, up to 500 K, in a fully converged coupled channel formalism.

Potential Energy Surface for the CH4-H2 van der Waals Interaction.

Methane is an ubiquitous molecule, present as a minor component in many environments, including the Earth and planet atmospheres. Its van der Waals interaction with the main gases is an important ingredient for the understanding of radiative properties for those atmospheres. We present here the first precise determination of the interaction between CH4 and H2. We compute the interaction in an ab initio coupled cluster formalism, with extended atomic bases. We compare a pure CCSD(T) approach to an explicitly correlated CCSD(T)-F12a formalism. The full geometry of scattering two rigid molecules is used, resulting in a potential energy surface depending on 5 degrees of freedom. The long-range part of the ab initio computation is compared with an analytic multipolar expansion. The potential is fit onto a suitable formalism for subsequent scattering dynamics. The potential well is computed at -92.92 cm-1, an intermediate value if compared with other methane-diatomic molecule interactions.

A Molecular Candle Where Few Molecules Shine: HeHHe.

HeHHe + is the only potential molecule comprised of atoms present in the early universe that is also easily observable in the infrared. This molecule has been known to exist in mass spectrometry experiments for nearly half-a-century and is likely present, but as-of-yet unconfirmed, in cold plasmas. There can exist only a handful of plausible primordial molecules in the epochs before metals (elements with nuclei heavier than 4 He as astronomers call them) were synthesized in the universe, and most of these are both rotationally and vibrationally dark. The current work brings HeHHe + into the discussion as a possible (and potentially only) molecular candle for probing high-z and any metal-deprived regions due to its exceptionally bright infrared feature previously predicted to lie at 7.43 µ m. Furthermore, the present study provides new insights into its possible formation mechanisms as well as marked stability, along with the decisive role of anharmonic zero-point energies. A new entrance pathway is proposed through the triplet state ( 3 B 1 ) of the He 2 H + molecule complexed with a hydrogen atom and a subsequent 10.90 eV charge transfer/photon emission into the linear and vibrationally-bright 1 Σ g + HeHHe + form.

van der Waals interaction of HNCO and H2: Potential Energy Surface and Rotational Energy Transfer.

Isocyanic acid (HNCO) is the most stable of all its isomers; it has been observed repeatedly in many different conditions of the Interstellar Media, and its chemistry is poorly known. To quantitatively estimate the abundance of HNCO with respect to other organic molecules, we compute its rotational quenching rates colliding with H2, the most common gas in the gaseous Interstellar Media. We compute ab initio the van der Waals interaction HNCO-H2, in the rigid molecules approximation, with a CCSD(T)-F12a method. On the fitted ab initio surface, inelastic scattering cross sections and rates are calculated for a temperature range of 7-200 K, with the coupled-states quantum time-independent formalism. The critical densities are high enough to yield rotational temperatures of HNCO differing significantly from the kinetic temperature of H2, especially so for the shorter wavelengths observed at the ALMA interferometer. It is found that the quenching rates for collisions with ortho- or para-H2 differ greatly, opening the possibility of far from equilibrium populations of some rotational levels of HNCO.

Collision energy dependence of state-to-state differential cross sections for rotationally inelastic scattering of H2O by He.

The inelastic scattering of H2O by He as a function of collision energy in the range 381 cm-1 to 763 cm-1 at an energy interval of approximately 100 cm-1 has been investigated in a crossed beam experiment using velocity map imaging. Change in collision energy was achieved by varying the collision angle between the H2O and He beam. We measured the state-to-state differential cross section (DCS) of scattered H2O products for the final rotational states JKaKc = 110, 111, 221 and 414. Rotational excitation of H2O is probed by (2 + 1) resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectroscopy. DCS measurements over a wide range of collision energies allowed us to probe the H2O-He potential energy surface (PES) with greater detail than in previous work. We found that a classical approximation of rotational rainbows can predict the collision energy dependence of the DCS. Close-coupling quantum mechanical calculations were used to produce DCS and partial cross sections. The forward-backward ratio (FBR), is introduced here to compare the experimental and theoretical DCS. Both theory and experiments suggest that an increase in the collision energy is accompanied with more forward scattering.

Near-resonant rotational energy transfer in HCl-H2 inelastic collisions.

We present a new four-dimensional (4D) potential energy surface for the HCl-H2 van der Waals system. Both molecules were treated as rigid rotors. Potential energy surface was obtained from electronic structure calculations using a coupled cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations method. The four atoms were described using the augmented correlation-consistent quadruple zeta basis set and bond functions were placed at mid-distance between the HCl and H2 centers of mass for a better description of the van der Waals interaction. The global minimum is characterized by the well depth of 213.38 cm(-1) corresponding to the T-shape structure with H2 molecule on the H side of the HCl molecule. The dissociation energies D0 are 34.7 cm(-1) and 42.3 cm(-1) for the complex with para- and ortho-H2, respectively. These theoretical results obtained using our new PES are in good agreement with experimental values [D. T. Anderson, M. Schuder, and D. J. Nesbitt, Chem. Phys. 239, 253 (1998)]. Close coupling calculations of the inelastic integral rotational cross sections of HCl in collisions with para-H2 and ortho-H2 were performed at low and intermediate collisional energies. Significant differences exist between para- and ortho-H2 results. The strongest collision-induced rotational HCl transitions are the transitions with Δj = 1 for collisions with both para-H2 and ortho-H2. Rotational relaxation of HCl in collision with para-H2 in the rotationally excited states j = 2 is dominated by near-resonant energy transfer.

The H + CO ⇌ HCO reaction studied by ab initio benchmark calculations.

The title reaction has been calculated using complete active space self-consistent field and internally contracted multi-reference configuration interaction, including Davidson correction, calculations. Dunning's correlation consistent atomic basis sets, together with several complete basis set extrapolation schemes, were employed. Core-valence and scalar relativistic effects were also taken into account, as well as anharmonicity of the vibrational modes. Core-valence correlation appears to have a large impact on the calculated frequencies, spectroscopic constants, and on the energetics. In particular, the best estimate for the HCO (DCO) formation barrier height at 0 K, 4.54 ± 0.14 (4.43 ± 0.14) kcal mol(-1) is larger than previous theoretical works and well above the usually accepted value of 2.0 ± 0.4 kcal mol(-1), measured at room temperature. Inclusion of temperature and entropy at 298 K does not seem to be able to solve this discrepancy. The present theoretical barrier height is therefore the recommended value. The exo-ergicity of the HCO (DCO) dissociation reaction, predicted to be -13.36 ± 0.57 (-14.72 ± 0.57) kcal mol(-1), is slightly below the experimental value. Finally, all tested density functionals fail to reproduce accurately both the formation and dissociation barriers.

Rotational excitation of HDO and D2O by H2: experimental and theoretical differential cross-sections.

We present state-to-state differential cross sections (DCSs) for rotationally inelastic scattering of HDO by normal- and para-H(2) at collision energies of 580 cm(-1) and 440 cm(-1). (2+1) resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization is used to detect rotationally cold HDO molecules before collision and as scattering products, which occupy higher rotational states due to collision with H(2). Relative integral cross sections of HDO are obtained by integrating its DCSs measured at the same experimental conditions. Experimental and theoretical DCSs of HDO scattered by normal- and para-H(2) are in good agreement in 30°-180° range of scattering angles. This partial agreement shows the accuracy of the recently tested potential of H(2)O-H(2), but now by using a completely different set of rotational transitions that are (unlike in H(2)O), not forbidden by nuclear spin restrictions. Similar results are presented for D(2)O scattered by normal-H(2) at collision energy of 584 cm(-1). The agreement between experiment and theory is, however, less good for forward scattering of HDO/D(2)O. A critical analysis of this discrepancy is presented.

Spin-orbit quenching of the C+(2P) ion by collisions with para- and ortho-H2.

Spin-orbit (de-)excitation of C(+)((2)P) by collisions with H2, a key process for astrochemistry, is investigated. Quantum-mechanical calculations of collisions between C(+) ions and para- and ortho-H2 have been performed in order to determine the cross section for the C(+) (2)P3∕2 → (2)P1∕2 fine-structure transition at low and intermediate energies. The calculation are based on new ab initio potential energy surfaces obtained using the multireference configuration interaction method. Corresponding rate coefficients were obtained for temperatures ranging from 5 to 500 K. These rate coefficients are compared to previous estimations, and their impact is assessed through radiative transfer computation. They are found to increase the flux of the (2)P3∕2 → (2)P1∕2 line at 158 µm by up to 30% for typical diffuse interstellar cloud conditions.

Rotational quenching of monodeuterated water by hydrogen molecules.

Cross sections and rate coefficients for low lying rotational transitions in HDO induced by para and ortho-H(2) collisions are presented for the first time. Calculations have been performed at the close-coupling and coupled-states levels with the deuterated variant of the H(2)O-H(2) interaction potential of Valiron et al. [J. Chem. Phys., 2008, 129, 134306]. Rate coefficients are presented for temperatures between 5 and 100 K and are compared to the corresponding rates for H(2)O and D(2)O. Significant differences caused by the isotopic substitution, in particular the C(2v) symmetry breaking, are observed. Finally, our rates are found to be significantly larger (by up to three orders of magnitude at 50 K) than the corresponding HDO-He rates and should lead to a thorough re-estimation of the abundance of interstellar HDO.

Theoretical investigation of the isomerization of trans-HCOH to H2CO: an example of a water-catalyzed reaction.

A concerted hydrogen atom transfer mechanism has been elucidated for the isomerization of trans-HCOH to H(2)CO using a variety of ab initio and density functional theory methods. This work places specific emphasis on the role water molecules can play as a catalyst for this reaction and the mechanism by which this is achieved. This is of particular importance in the context of molecular ices in the interstellar medium because the presence of water in this reaction reduces the activation energy by at least 80%, which is accompanied by a significant enhancement of the reaction rate, at ≤300 K.

Potential energy surface and rotational cross sections for methyl formate colliding with helium.

A potential energy surface for helium interacting with methyl formate has been computed using high-level electronic structure methods. The interaction energies obtained on a three-dimensional grid have been fitted by an analytic function of interatomic distances with correct asymptotic behavior for large intermonomer separations. This potential has then been refitted using partial wave expansion in terms of the distance between centers of mass and spherical angles. The latter potential has been used to compute cross sections for the rotational excitations of methyl formate at the full quantum close-coupling level. Collisional propensity rules and astrophysical implications are discussed.

Imaging the inelastic scattering of water with helium. Comparison of experiment and theory.

State-to-state differential cross sections for rotationally inelastic He-H(2)O scattering have been measured at 53.3 meV (429 cm(-1)) collision energy, using the crossed molecular beam technique. The inelastic events are detected by velocity map imaging of nascent H(2)O(+) ions, which are formed by state-selective (2 + 1) resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) of the scattered H(2)O molecules. Raw density images are converted to flux images and the extracted differential cross sections are compared with full close-coupling calculations of state-to-state cross sections for rotational excitation based on a previously published ab initio potential. A hard-shell ellipsoid model is also employed to yield a more physical insight useful in interpreting the results. The excellent agreement of fully quantum theory and experiment found here for water collisions with helium at a collision energy relevant to that of the interstellar media place the theoretically determined potential energy surface and the collision cross sections extracted using this surface on a firmer basis.