Vibrational partition function

Abstract: A procedure that automatically identifies internal rotation modes and rotating groups during the normal mode vibrational analysis is outlined, and an improved approximation to the corrections for the thermodynamic functions is proposed. The identification and the characterization of the internal rotation modes require no user intervention and make extensive use of the information imbedded in the redundant internal coordinates. Rigid-rotor internal rotation modes are obtained by fixing stretching, bending, and out-of-plane bending motions and solving the vibrational problem for the constrained system. Normal vibrational modes corresponding to internal rotations are identified by comparing them with the constrained modes. The atomic composition of the rotating groups is determined automatically and the kinetic energy matrix for internal rotation is given by either the constrained Wilson-G matrix or the Kilpatrick and Pitzer protocol. The potential periodicity, the rotating tops’ symmetry numbers, and the well-multiplicity are obtained using simple rules. These parameters can be altered by user input. An improved analytical approximation to the partition function for a one-dimensional hindered internal rotation has been developed that reproduces the accurate values tabulated by Pitzer and Gwinn to ±0.4% with a maximum error of 2.1%. This approximation is shown to behave better than previously available approximations over a wider range of regimes. The one-dimensional rotor treatment is generalized to give useful approximations to the multidimensional rotor thermodynamic functions that can be a good start for more thorough studies.

Abstract: A number of recently developed theoretical methods for the calculation of vibrational energies and wave functions are reviewed. Methods for constructing the appropriate quantum mechanical Hamilton operator are briefly described before reviewing a particular branch of theoretical methods for solving the nuclear Schrodinger equation. The main focus is on wave function methods using the vibrational self-consistent field (VSCF) as starting point, and includes vibrational configuration interaction (VCI), vibrational Moller–Plesset (VMP) theory, and vibrational coupled cluster (VCC) theory. The convergence of the different methods towards the full vibrational configuration interaction (FVCI) result is discussed. Finally, newly developed vibrational response methods for calculation of vibrational contributions to properties, energies, and transition probabilities are discussed.

Abstract: The numerical solution of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation for vibrating hydrogen molecules in few-cycle laser pulses shows that high-harmonic generation is sensitive to the laser-induced vibrational motion. More intense harmonics are generated in heavier isotopes, the difference increasing with the harmonic frequency. Analytical theory reveals a dependence of the harmonics on the vibrational autocorrelation function. With the help of a genetic algorithm, the nuclear motion can be reconstructed from the harmonic spectra with sub-fs time resolution.

Abstract: The theory and first implementation of a vibrational coupled cluster (VCC) method for calculations of the vibrational structure of molecules is presented. Different methods for introducing approximate VCC methods are discussed including truncation according to a maximum number of simultaneous mode excitations as well as an interaction space order concept is introduced. The theory is tested on calculation of anharmonic frequencies for a three-mode model system and a formaldehyde quartic force field. The VCC method is compared to vibrational self-consistent-field, vibrational Moller-Plesset perturbation theory, and vibrational configuration interaction (VCI). A VCC calculation typically gives higher accuracy than a corresponding VCI calculation with the same number of parameters and the same formal operation count.