Bridged HPSi and Linear HSiP as Probes of the SiP Radical in Astrophysical/Interstellar Media
The SiP radical has a X-tilde {sup 2}Π ground state and a low-lying A{sup 2}Σ{sup +} state with a transition wavelength of greater than 20 μm. However, this transition has a near-zero oscillator strength making it all but unobservable. Addition of a hydrogen atom to the system creates the strangely bent HPSi molecule and also the linear HSiP isomer, lying 0.50 eV above the bent. The electron-deficient P–Si π cloud in X-tilde {sup 2}Π SiP is stabilized by the addition of the hydrogen atom, making this isomer the preferred form of HPSi. The HSiP linear isomer can be formed from A{sup 2}Σ{sup +} SiP. As a result, the [HPSi]/[HSiP] ratio could serve as tracer of the otherwise unobservable but low-lying A{sup 2}Σ{sup +}← X-tilde {sup 2}Π electronic transition of SiP. The high-level quantum chemical computations employed here imply that the rotational lines of HPSi and HSiP will overlap extensively, but the vibrational frequencies, especially the hydride stretch, are significantly separated. The hydride stretches are in the 5 μm range, making them excellent candidates for mid-IR observations with the Stratsopheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy or with the James Webb Space Telescope. Furthermore, the rotational constants and vibrational frequencies of X-tilde {sup 2}Π SiP, A{sup 2}Σ{sup +} SiP, and X-tilde {sup 1}Σ{sup +} SiP{sup −} are also provided in addition to the relative energies of all five species.