Coordinate irreducible representation

More generally, it is possible to combine sets of Cartesian displacement coordinates qk into so-called symmetry adapted coordinates Qrj, where the index F labels the irreducible representation and j labels the particular combination of that symmetry. These symmetry adapted coordinates can be formed by applying the point group projection operators to the individual Cartesian displacement coordinates. 

The next part of the output illustrates the interconversion between a Z-matrix and Cartesian coordinates, and shows the internal use of molecular symmetry Aspirin as written above belongs to the Cs point group, and the two irreducible representations are A and A". 

An example of the application of Eq. (47) is provided by the group < 3v whose symmetry operations are defined by Eqs. (18). If the same arbitrary function,

symmetry operation can be worked out, as shown in the last column of Table 13. With the use of the projection operator defined by Eq. (47) and the character table (Table 6), it is found (problem 16) that the coordinate z is totally symmetric (representation Ai). However, it is the sum xy + zx that is preserved in the doubly degenerate representation, E. It should not be surprising that the functions xy and zx are projected as the sum, because it was the sum of the diagonal elements (the trace) of the irreducible representation that was employed in each case in the... 

The group developed above to describe the symmetry of the ammonia molecule consisted only of the permutation operations. However, if the triangular pyramid corresponding to this structure is flattened, it becomes planer in me limit. The RF3 molecule shown in Fig. lb is an example of this symmetry. In this case it becomes possible to invert the coordinate perpendicular to the plane of the molecule, the z axis. Obviously, the operation of reflection in the (horizontal) plane of the molecule, <7h> is identical. It is easy, then, to identify the irreducible representations A and A" as symmetric or antisymmetric, respectively, under the coordinate inversion. The group composed of the identity and the inversion of the z axis is then <5 = s> whose character table is of the form of Table 7. 

The internal coordinates for the water molecule are chosen as changes in the structural parameters defined in Fig. 3. The effect of each symmetry operation of the symmetry group ( 2 on these internal coordinates is specified in Table 2. Clearly, the internal coordinate Ace is totally symmetric, as the characters xy(Aa) correspond to those given for the irreducible representation (IR) Ai. On die other hand, the characters x/(Ar), as shown, can not be identified with a specific IR. By inspection of Table 2, however, it is apparent that the direct sum Ai B2 corresponds to the correct symmetry of these coordinates. In more complicated cases the magic formula can always be employed to achieve the correct reduction of the representation in question. 

To find the irreducible representations of 0(3) it is necessary to find a set of basis functions which transform into their linear combinations on operating with the elements of 0(3). The set of 21 + 1 spherical harmonics Y[m(d, ), where l = 0,1, 2... and —l[Pg.91]

Each set of four numbers ( 1) constitutes an irreducible representation (i.r.) of the symmetry group, on the basis of either a coordinate axis or an axial rotation. According to a well-known theorem of group theory [2.7.4(v)], the number of i.r. s is equal to the number of classes of that group. The four different i.r. s obtained above therefore cover all possibilities for C2V. The theorem thus implies that any representation of the symmetry operators of the group, on whatever basis, can be reduced to one of these four. In summary, the i.r. s of C2 are given by Table 1. 

Here the R form the set of linear coordinate transformations that leave the nuclear framework invariant, yC are the characters associated with the fi ,-dimensional irreducible representation and g is the order of the point group, G. 

We then discover an extremely important fact each normal coordinate belongs to one of the irreducible representations of the point group of the molecule concerned and is a part of a basis which can be used to produce that representation. Because of their relationship with the normal coordinates, the vibrational wavefunctions associated with the fundamental vibrational energy levels also behave in the same way. We are therefore able to classify both the normal coordinates and fundamental vibrational wavefunctions according to their symmetry species and to predict from the character tables the degeneracies and symmetry types which can, in principle, exist. 

We are now in the position of being able to determine the irreducible representations to which the different normal coordinates belong. From this knowledge it will be possible to find out which of the fundamental frequencies are infra-red or Raman active. The reduction of r° (which is equivalent to T") gives... 

Therefore the wavefunctions yj, (m = 1,2,... np) form a basis for the irreducible representation rp, the same representation to which the normal coordinates Qp( 1>p... Q (np> associated with the fundamental frequency vp belong. 

Just as group theory enables one to find symmetry-adapted orbitals, which simplify the solution of the MO secular equation, group theory enables one to find symmetry-adapted displacement coordinates, which simplify the solution of the vibrational secular equation. We first show that the matrices describing the transformation properties of any set of degenerate normal coordinates form an irreducible representation of the molecular point group. The proof is based on the potential-energy expression for vibration, (6.23) and (6.33) ... 

For certain point groups, we have one-dimensional (irreducible) representations with complex characters. Suppose that the normal coordinate Qx transforms according to the one-dimensional (irreducible) representation T some of whose characters are complex numbers. We then have for any symmetry operation R... 

We see that I is the A irreducible representation. This means that the coordinate 2 forms a basis for the A representation, or, as we also say, 2 transforms as (or according to) Ax. If we examine the characters of Tuy, we find them to be those of the E representation (2 cos 2n > — -1), so that the coordinates x andy together transform as or according to the E representation. It is important to grasp that x and y are inseparable in this respect, since the representation for which they form a basis is irreducible. 

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