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Energy of Phonons and Zero-Point Vibrations in Compressed Rare-Gas Crystals
A dynamic matrix of rare-gas crystals is constructed within the model of deformable and polarizable atoms based on the nonempirical short-range repulsion potential taking into account the three-body interaction and deformation of electron shells of dipole-type atoms within the pair and three-body approximations. Ab initio calculations of the phonon energy for compressed rare-gas crystals are performed at two and ten mean-value points of the Chadi–Kohen method in a wide pressure range. It is shown that the contribution of three-body forces to the phonon frequencies due to overlap of electron shells of neighboring atoms is small as compared to the pair interaction even at a high pressure and most pronounced for Xe. The contributions of the deformation of electron shells within the pair and three-body approximations differ for different mean-value points and increase with an increase in pressure. The zero-point energies calculated by the Chadi–Kohen method for crystals of the Ne–Xe series are compared with the known experimental data at p = 0 and calculation results obtained by other researchers.
Electron scattering with ethane adsorbed on rare gas multilayers: Hole transfer, coulomb decay, and ion dissociation
Positive ion desorption following electron impact dissociative ionization of ethane adsorbed on Ar, Kr, and Xe multilayers has been studied as a function of incident electron energy from threshold to 100 eV. Based on the dependence of ion yields on the identity of the rare gas, it is likely that the majority of ethane molecules undergo indirect ionization following hole transfer from the ionized underlying rare gas. Further, this has also been corroborated by density of states calculations showing the energetic alignment of the outer valence states of ethane and the condensed rare gas ionization energies. Due to the near-resonant nature of charge transfer for single-hole states, the ethane molecular ion is excited to different final ionic states on different rare gases, which leads to differences in ion desorption yields and branching ratios. The quantitative yields increase with increasing ionization energy gap between the rare gas and ethane, in the order Ar > Kr >Xe. The large increase in yields from 25 eV onwards for all rare gases is likely due to the formation and decay of two-hole states on neighboring rare gas and ethane molecules due to interatomic and intermolecular Coulomb decay (ICD) and not electron transfer mediated decay (ETMD). The ICD and ETMD pathways become accessible when the incoming electron has sufficient energy to excite the inner valence ns level of the rare gas to a Rydberg state or ionize it. The experimental findings are supported by calculations of thresholds, density of states for the final configurations of these processes, and coupling strengths for hole transfer between ethane and rare gases. The fragment ion branching ratios vary with energy from threshold to about 35 eV, showing the fragmentation pattern changes with the mode of hole transfer and availability of excess energy. Sigma C–C bonds are more likely to break than C–H bonds in the mid-20 eV range, and this effect is most pronounced for Xe, followed by Kr, and then Ar.
Ab initio theory of the equation of state for compressed rare gas crystals
Nonempirical equations of state of compressed rare gas crystals Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe are studied on the basis of the earlier-obtained ab initio adiabatic potential. The paired and three-body short-range repulsive potentials are calculated by the Hartree–Fock method in the basis of localized functions with their exact mutual orthogonalization and do not contain experimentally determined parameters. The theory is compared with the experiment and results of calculations by other authors. Analysis of the proposed equations of state for large compressions has shown the importance of taking into account the three-body interaction and the terms of the higher order in the overlap integral in compressed neon and the sufficiency of the quadratic approximation in the orthogonalization of functions in heavy rare gas crystals.
Scattering of NH{sub 3} and ND{sub 3} with rare gas atoms at low collision energy
We present a theoretical study of elastic and rotationally inelastic collisions of NH{sub 3} and ND{sub 3} with rare gas atoms (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe) at low energy. Quantum close-coupling calculations have been performed for energies between 0.001 and 300 cm{sup −1}. We focus on collisions in which NH{sub 3} is initially in the upper state of the inversion doublet with j = 1, k = 1, which is the most relevant in an experimental context as it can be trapped electrostatically and Stark-decelerated. We discuss the presence of resonances in the elastic and inelastic cross sections, as well as the trends in the inelastic cross sections along the rare gas series and the differences between NH{sub 3} and ND{sub 3} as a colliding partner. We also demonstrate the importance of explicitly taking into account the umbrella (inversion) motion of NH{sub 3} in order to obtain accurate scattering cross sections at low collision energy. Finally, we investigate the possibility of sympathetic cooling of ammonia using cold or ultracold rare gas atoms. We show that some systems exhibit a large ratio of elastic to inelastic cross sections in the cold regime, which is promising for sympathetic cooling experiments. The close-coupling calculations are based on previously reported ab initio potential energy surfaces for NH{sub 3}–He and NH{sub 3}–Ar, as well as on new, four-dimensional, potential energy surfaces for the interaction of ammonia with Ne, Kr, and Xe, which were computed using the coupled-cluster method and large basis sets. We compare the properties of the potential energy surfaces corresponding to the interaction of ammonia with the various rare gas atoms.
Infrared spectroscopy of RG–Co + (H 2 O) complexes (RG = Ar, Ne, He): The role of rare gas “tag” atoms
RG n –Co + (H 2 O) cation complexes (RG = Ar, Ne, He) are generated in a supersonic expansion by pulsed laser vaporization. Here, complexes are mass-selected using a time-of-flight spectrometer and studied with infrared laser photodissociation spectroscopy, measuring the respective mass channels corresponding to the elimination of the rare gas “tag” atom. Spectral patterns and theory indicate that the structures of the ions with a single rare gas atom have this bound to the cobalt cation opposite the water moiety in a near-C 2v arrangement. The O–H stretch vibrations of the complex are shifted compared to those of water because of the metal cation charge-transfer interaction; these frequencies also vary systematically with the rare gas atom attached. The efficiencies of photodissociation also vary with the rare gas atoms because of their widely different binding energies to the cobalt cation. The spectrum of the argon complex could only be measured when at least three argon atoms were attached. In the case of the helium complex, the low binding energy allows the spectra to be measured for the low-frequency H–O–H scissors bending mode and for the O–D stretches of the deuterated analog. The partially resolved rotational structure for the antisymmetric O–H and O–D stretches reveals the temperature of these complexes (6 K) and establishes the electronic ground state. The helium complex has the same 3 B 1 ground state as the tag-free complex studied previously by Metz and co-workers (2013), but the A rotational constant is contaminated by vibrational averaging from the bending motion of the helium.
Mutual neutralization of atomic rare-gas cations (Ne{sup +}, Ar{sup +}, Kr{sup +}, Xe{sup +}) with atomic halide anions (Cl{sup −}, Br{sup −}, I{sup −})
We report thermal rate coefficients for 12 reactions of rare gas cations (Ne{sup +}, Ar{sup +}, Kr{sup +}, Xe{sup +}) with halide anions (Cl{sup −}, Br{sup −}, I{sup −}), comprising both mutual neutralization (MN) and transfer ionization. No rate coefficients have been previously reported for these reactions; however, the development of the Variable Electron and Neutral Density Attachment Mass Spectrometry technique makes it possible to measure the difference of the rate coefficients for pairs of parallel reactions in a Flowing Afterglow-Langmuir Probe apparatus. Measurements of 18 such combinations of competing reaction pairs yield an over-determined data set from which a consistent set of rate coefficients of the 12 MN reactions can be deduced. Unlike rate coefficients of MN reactions involving at least one polyatomic ion, which vary by at most a factor of ∼3, those of the atom-atom reactions vary by at least a factor 60 depending on the species. It is found that the rate coefficients involving light rare-gas ions are larger than those for the heavier rare-gas ions, but the opposite trend is observed in the progression from Cl{sup −} to I{sup −}. The largest rate coefficient is 6.5 × 10{sup −8} cm{sup 3} s{sup −1} for Ne{sup +} with I{sup −}. Rate coefficients for Ar{sup +}, Kr{sup +}, and Xe{sup +} reacting with Br{sub 2}{sup −} are also reported.
Two-body and three-body rare-gas clusters
Properties of a helium triatomic system are studied using the Faddeev approach. Spectra and radii of all possible homogeneous and heterogeneous rare-gas dimers are calculated. It is shown that all rare-gas dimers have excited states with the energy close to the breakup threshold.
Absolute Instability of FCC Lattice of Rare-Gas Crystals under Pressure
On the basis of ab initio calculations of the phonon frequencies of compressed rare-gas crystals in the model of deformable and polarizable atoms, dynamic instability of the fcc lattice of these crystals is studied. In addition to the earlier-considered three-body interaction, which is associated with the overlapping of the electron shells of atoms, the short-range potential includes three-body forces caused by the mutual deformation of the electron shells of neighboring atoms. It is shown that the allowance for the deformation of the dipole-type electron shells of atoms in the pair and three-body approximations leads to softening of the critical vibrations and absolute instability of the fcc lattice at pressures higher than the critical values, p > p{sub c}. For light crystals of Ne and Ar under compressions of 0.76 (p{sub c} = 422 GPa) and 0.71 (p{sub c} = 405 GPa), respectively, the softening of the longitudinal mode is observed at the boundary of the Brillouin zone at the point L; for heavy crystals of Kr and Xe under compressions of 0.686 (p{sub c} = 240 GPa) and 0.605 (p{sub c} = 88 GPa), the transverse mode T{sub 1} is softened in the direction Σ. The behavior of second-order Fuchs elastic moduli of compressed rare-gas crystals is discussed.
Absorption spectroscopy of heavy alkaline earth metals Ba and Sr in rare gas matrices—CCSD(T) calculations and atomic site occupancies
Isolation of the heavier alkaline earth metals Ba and Sr in the solid rare gases (RGs) Ar, Kr, and Xe is analysed with absorption spectroscopy and interpreted partly with the assistance of ab initio calculations of the diatomic M ⋅ RG ground state interaction potentials. The y{sup 1}P←a{sup 1}S resonance transitions in the visible spectral region are used to compare the isolation conditions of these two metal atom systems and calcium. Complex absorption bands were recorded in all three metal atom systems even after extensive sample annealing. Coupled cluster calculations conducted on the ground states of the nine M ⋅ RG diatomics (M = Ca, Sr, and Ba; RG = Ar, Kr, and Xe) at the coupled cluster single, double, and non-iterative triple level of theory revealed long bond lengths (>5 Å) and shallow bound regions (<130 cm{sup −1}). All of the M ⋅ RG diatomics have bond lengths considerably longer than those of the rare gas dimers, with the consequence that isolation of these metal atoms in a single substitutional site of the solid rare gas is unlikely, with the possible exception of Ca/Xe. The luminescence of metal dimer bands has been recorded for Ba and Sr revealing very different behaviours. Resonance fluorescence with a lifetime of 15 ns is observed for the lowest energy transition of Sr{sub 2} while this transition is quenched in Ba{sub 2}. This behaviour is consistent with the absence of vibrational structure on the dimer absorption band in Ba{sub 2} indicating lifetime broadening arising from efficient relaxation to low-lying molecular states. More extensive 2D excitation-emission data recorded for the complex site structures present on the absorption bands of the atomic Ba and Sr systems will be presented in future publications.
HM{sup +}–RG complexes (M = group 2 metal; RG = rare gas): Physical vs. chemical interactions
Previous work on the HM{sup +}–He complexes (M = Be–Ra) has been extended to the cases of the heavier rare gas atoms, HM{sup +}–RG (RG = Ne–Rn). Optimized geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies have been calculated using MP2 theory and quadruple-ζ quality basis sets. Dissociation energies for the loss of the rare gas atom have been calculated at these optimized geometries using coupled cluster with single and double excitations and perturbative triples, CCSD(T)theory, extrapolating interaction energies to the basis set limit. Comparisons are made between the present data and the previously obtained helium results, as well as to those of the bare HM{sup +} molecules; furthermore, comparisons are made to the related M{sup +}–RG and M{sup 2+}–RG complexes. Partial atomic charge analyses have also been undertaken, and these used to test a simple charge-induced dipole model. Molecular orbital diagrams are presented together with contour plots of the natural orbitals from the quadratic configuration with single and double excitations (QCISD) density. The conclusion is that the majority of these complexes are physically bound, with very little sharing of electron density; however, for M = Be, and to a lesser extent M = Mg, some evidence for chemical effects is seen in HM{sup +}–RG complexes involving RG atoms with the higher atomic numbers.
Comparison of the interactions in the rare gas hydride and Group 2 metal hydride anions
We study both the rare gas hydride anions, RG–H{sup −} (RG = He–Rn) and Group 2 (Group IIa) metal hydride anions, M{sub IIa}H{sup −} (M{sub IIa} = Be–Ra), calculating potential energy curves at the CCSD(T) level with augmented quadruple and quintuple basis sets, and extrapolating the results to the basis set limit. We report spectroscopic parameters obtained from these curves; additionally, we study the Be–He complex. While the RG–H{sup −} and Be–He species are weakly bound, we show that, as with the previously studied BeH{sup −} and MgH{sup −} species, the other M{sub IIa}H{sup −} species are strongly bound, despite the interactions nominally also being between two closed shell species: M(ns{sup 2}) and H{sup −}(1s{sup 2}). We gain insight into the interactions using contour plots of the electron density changes and population analyses. For both series, the calculated dissociation energy is significantly less than the ion/induced-dipole attraction term, confirming that electron repulsion is important in these species; this effect is more dramatic for the M{sub IIa}H{sup −} species than for RG–H{sup −}. Our analyses lead us to conclude that the stronger interaction in the case of the M{sub IIa}H{sup −} species arises from sp and spd hybridization, which allows electron density on the M{sub IIa} atom to move away from the incoming H{sup −}.
A density functional tight binding/force field approach to the interaction of molecules with rare gas clusters: Application to (C{sub 6}H{sub 6}){sup +/0}Ar{sub n} clusters
We propose in the present paper a SCC-DFTB/FF (Self-Consistent-Charge Density Functional based Tight Binding/Force-Field) scheme adapted to the investigation of molecules trapped in rare gas environments. With respect to usual FF descriptions, the model involves the interaction of quantum electrons in a molecule with rare gas atoms in an anisotropic scheme. It includes polarization and dispersion contributions and can be used for both neutral and charged species. Parameters for this model are determined for hydrocarbon-argon complexes and the model is validated for small hydrocarbons. With the future aim of studying polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Ar matrices, extensive benchmark calculations are performed on (C{sub 6}H{sub 6}){sup +/0}Ar{sub n} clusters against DFT and CCSD(T) calculations for the smaller sizes, and more generally against other experimental and theoretical data. Results on the structures and energetics (isomer ordering and energy separation, cohesion energy per Ar atom) are presented in detail for n = 1–8, 13, 20, 27, and 30, for both neutrals and cations. We confirm that the clustering of Ar atoms leads to a monotonous decrease of the ionization potential of benzene for n ⩽ 20, in line with previous experimental and FF data.
Non-additive non-interacting kinetic energy of rare gas dimers
We show approximations of the non-additive non-interacting kinetic energy (NAKE) as an explicit functional of the density are the basis of several electronic structure methods that provide improved computational efficiency over standard Kohn-Sham calculations. However, within most fragment-based formalisms, there is no unique exact NAKE, making it difficult to develop general, robust approximations for it. When adjustments are made to the embedding formalisms to guarantee uniqueness, approximate functionals may be more meaningfully compared to the exact unique NAKE. We use numerically accurate inversions to study the exact NAKE of several rare-gas dimers within partition density functional theory, a method that provides the uniqueness for the exact NAKE. We find that the NAKE decreases nearly exponentially with atomic separation for the rare-gas dimers. We compute the logarithmic derivative of the NAKE with respect to the bond length for our numerically accurate inversions as well as for several approximate NAKE functionals. We show that standard approximate NAKE functionals do not reproduce the correct behavior for this logarithmic derivative and propose two new NAKE functionals that do. The first of these is based on a re-parametrization of a conjoint Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) functional. The second is a simple, physically motivated non-decomposable NAKE functional that matches the asymptotic decay constant without fitting.
In situ formation and characterisation of singly ionised atomic europium in rare gas matrices—Luminescence spectroscopy and MP2 calculations
Irradiation of atomic europium isolated in the solid rare gases, with low intensity laser excitation of the y{sup 8}P←a{sup 8}S resonance transition at ca. 465 nm, is found to produce singly charged europium cations (Eu{sup +}) in large amounts in xenon and in smaller amounts in argon. Confirmation of the formation of matrix-isolated Eu{sup +} is obtained from characteristic absorption bands in the UV and in the visible spectral regions. The luminescence produced with excitation of the cation bands is presented in greatest detail for Eu/Xe and assigned. Excitation of the 4f{sup 7}({sup 8}S{sub 7/2})6p{sub 3/2} absorption bands of Eu{sup +} between 390 and 410 nm produces emission which is quite distinct from that resulting from excitation of the 4f{sup 7}({sup 8}S{sub 7/2})6p{sub 1/2} absorption (430 to 450 nm) features. The latter consists of narrow, resolved emission bands with Stokes shifts ten times smaller than the former. The observed spectral differences are discussed in relation to the different spatial symmetries of the p{sub 3/2} and p{sub 1/2} orbitals in these j-j coupled (7/2, 3/2){sub J} and the (7/2, 1/2){sub J} levels. Møller-Plesset calculations are conducted to obtain the molecular parameters of the neutral Eu-RG and cationic Eu{sup +}-RG diatomics (RG = Ar, Kr, Xe). From the short bond lengths and the strong binding energies obtained for the Eu{sup +}-RG species, these values suggest the isolation of the ion in small, possibly interstitial sites especially in xenon. In contrast, but consistent with previous work [O. Byrne and J. G. McCaffrey, J. Chem. Phys. 134, 124501 (2011)], the interaction potentials calculated herein for the Eu-RG diatomics suggest that the neutral Eu atom occupies tetra-vacancy (tv) and hexa-vacancy (hv) sites in the solid rare gas hosts. Possible reasons for the facile production of Eu{sup +} in the solid rare gases are discussed. The mechanism proposed is that atomic europium is also acting as an electron acceptor, providing a temporary trap for the ionised electron in the matrices.
Theoretical prediction of rare gas inserted hydronium ions: HRgOH{sub 2}{sup +}
A possibility of existence of new species through insertion of a rare gas atom in hydronium ion resulting into HRgOH{sub 2}{sup +} cation (Rg = He, Ar, Kr, and Xe) has been explored by using various ab initio quantum chemical techniques. Structure, harmonic vibrational frequencies, stability, and charge distribution of HRgOH{sub 2}{sup +} species as obtained using density functional theory, second order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory, and coupled-cluster theory based methods are reported in this work. All the calculated results suggest that the HRgOH{sub 2}{sup +} species are stable enough with respect to all the dissociation channels, except the 2-body dissociation path (H{sub 3}O{sup +}+ Rg). Nevertheless, this 2-body dissociation channel connected through the relevant transition state is associated with a finite barrier, which in turn would prevent the metastable species in transforming to global minimum products. The calculated values of topological properties within the framework of quantum theory of atoms-in-molecules are found to be consistent with the bond length values. Structural and energetic parameters clearly suggest that it might be possible to prepare and characterize the HRgOH{sub 2}{sup +} species (except HHeOH{sub 2}{sup +}) using electron bombardment matrix isolation technique in a way similar to that of the preparation of (Rg{sub 2}H){sup +} or mixed (RgHRg{sup Prime }){sup +} cations.
Origin of melting point depression for rare gas solids confined in carbon pores
To obtain insights into the mechanism of the melting-point depression of rare gas solids confined in crystalline carbon pores, we examined the freezing and melting behavior of Xe and Ar confined to the crystalline pores of ordered mesoporous carbons as well as compressed exfoliated graphite compared to the amorphous pores of ordered mesoporous silicas, by means of X-ray diffraction. For the Xe and Ar confined to the crystalline carbon pores, there was no appreciable thermal hysteresis between freezing and melting. Furthermore, the position of the main diffraction peak did not change appreciably on freezing and melting. This strongly suggests that the liquids confined in the carbon pores form a multilayered structure parallel to the smooth walls. For the Xe and Ar confined to the amorphous silica pores, on the other hand, the position of the main diffraction peak shifted into higher scattering angle on freezing suggested that the density of the confined solid is distinctly larger than for the confined liquid. Using compressed exfoliated graphite with carbon walls of higher crystallinity, we observed that three-dimensional (3D) microcrystals of Xe confined in the slit-shaped pores melted to leave the unmelted bilayers on the pore walls below the bulk triple point. The lattice spacing of the 3D microcrystals confined is larger by ∼0.7% than that of the bilayer next to the pore walls in the vicinity of the melting point.
Optically pumped rare-gas lasers
The modern state of the research of a new promising optically pumped laser system with an active medium formed by metastable rare-gas atoms is briefly reviewed. The kinetics of these media is similar to that of laser media based on alkali metal vapour; however, the gas medium is inert. Metastable atoms can be produced in an electric discharge. As in alkali lasers, the specific laser power output under atmospheric pressure can be several hundreds of watts per 1 cm{sup 3}. The lasing wavelengths lie in the near-IR range and fall in the transparency window of the terrestrial atmosphere. This new concept makes it possible to develop a closed-cycle cw laser with megawatt power levels and high beam quality. (lasers)