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We show that a comparison of the depletion spectra of Na+n (n=2–9,11,21) clusters recorded at low temperature and optically allowed transitions determined for the stable structures using ab initio methods accounting for electron correlation allows the assignment of the cluster geometry to the measured features. Due to the large mobility of atoms in alkali metal clusters, the influence of temperature on structural and electronic properties is significant. The lowering of temperature reveals new spectroscopic features which are structure dependent. Optical response properties of small cationic Na+n clusters are characterized by rich molecularlike spectroscopic patterns, also with increasing size, and differ substantially from those found for neutral clusters. It has been clearly demonstrated that not only the number of valence electrons but its mutual interplay with the geometric properties determine optical response features. © 1996 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The configuration-interaction study of the excited states of the most-stable structures of Na5, Na6, and Na7 clusters employing ab initio effective-core potential corrected by the core polarization potential predicts spectroscopic patterns which are in good agreement with the measured depletion spectra. A comparison of the transition energies and the oscillator strengths with the experimental data makes possible tentative structural assignments. Planar Na5 and Na6 structures and the three-dimensional pentagonal bipyramid for Na7 appear responsible for the recorded spectra. The full agreement between theory and experiment is present for Na6 and Na7. The measured cross sections and calculated oscillator strengths for Na5 compare better for lower transition energies than for higher ones. A many-electron description of the excited states of Na5, Na6, and Na7 yields a complete quantum molecular interpretation of the absorption spectra. From a comparison of the experimental and theoretical results the conclusion has been drawn that a transition from planarity to the three dimensionality takes place for Na7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ab initio configuration-interaction (CI) study of excited states of mixed alkali metal tetramers LiNa3 and Li2Na2 accounts for spectroscopic patterns obtained from the depletion spectra of neutral species, reproduces observed excitation energies and intensities for allowed transitions, and permits an assignment of cluster structures. For both mixed tetramers, the rhombic forms with a Li atom or atoms on the short diagonal are the most stable structures and give rise to predicted spectra in full agreement with the measured ones. The exact location of Li atoms seems to be more important in Li2Na2 than in LiNa3 since in the former case, only one isomer reproduces all features of the recorded spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reaction path for the Li4+H2 interaction has been determined allowing for the relaxation and the reconstruction of the system. For various steps along the reaction path characterized by the given values of one or two geometrical parameters the full geometry optimization of the remaining variables has been carried out in the framework of the Hartree–Fock (HF) procedure. The configuration interaction (CI) energies for the optimal HF geometries in each step have been calculated using multireference diexcited (MRD-CI) procedure. The calculated dissociation energy for the molecular hydrogen is reduced from 103.6 to 19.6 kcal/mol in the presence of Li tetrameter. During the first stage of the reaction path referred as ‘‘dissociative chemisorption’’ the geometry of the Li tetrameter does not change substantially. After dissociation of H2 the full reconstruction of the tetrameter takes place leading to a local minimum which is separated from the lowest minimum by a moderate barrier along the chosen reaction path. The stable compound has the form of deformed rhombus with two hydrogen atoms bridging two neighboring rhombus sides. The preliminary calculations using complete active space self-consistent field procedure followed by direct CI carried out for the Li6+H2 interaction in the C2v symmetry yield fairly stable three dimensional LI6H2 compound, which can be formed after passing an energy barrier of comparable size at the present level of calculation as that found for the Li4+H2 reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absolute photoabsorption cross section of trimethylene oxide has been measured between threshold and 30 eV using monochromated synchrotron radiation. Below the ionization threshold the spectrum exhibits numerous sharp peaks associated with Rydberg states belonging to series converging onto the [image omitted] limit. At excitation energies above the ionization threshold at 9.680 eV intravalence transitions play a dominant role, resulting in the appearance of prominent broad bands. Ab initio multireference configuration interaction calculations have been performed to obtain excitation energies for valence electron transitions into Rydberg or virtual valence orbitals. These theoretical predictions have enabled assignments to be proposed for most of the structure due to Rydberg series converging onto the [image omitted] limit. The calculations show that configuration interaction is important in the description of some of the excited states. The photoabsorption spectrum of trimethylene oxide has been compared with those of ethylene oxide, ethylene sulphide and trimethylene sulphide to identify and characterize the principal Rydberg excitations that these related three- or four-membered ring molecules have in common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]