Energy, rotation

MSS Molecule surface scattering [159-161] Translational and rotational energy distribution of a scattered molecular beam Quantum mechanics of scattering processes... 

The rotational energy of a rigid molecule is given by 7(7 + l)h /S-n- IkT, where 7 is the quantum number and 7 is the moment of inertia, but if the energy level spacing is small compared to kT, integration can replace summation in the evaluation of Q t, which becomes... 

Equation XVI-21 provides for the general case of a molecule having n independent ways of rotation and a moment of inertia 7 that, for an asymmetric molecule, is the (geometric) mean of the principal moments. The quantity a is the symmetry number, or the number of indistinguishable positions into which the molecule can be turned by rotations. The rotational energy and entropy are [66,67]... 

Figure A3.9.5. Population of rotational states versus rotational energy for NO moleeules seattered from an Ag (111) surfaee at two different ineidenee energies and at = 520 K [25] (a) E = 0.85 eV, 0. = 15° and b) E = 0.09 eV, 9. = 15°. Results at = 0.85 eV show a pronoimeed rotational rainbow.

Wang Z S, Darling G R and Holloway S 2000 Translation-to-rotational energy transfer in seattering of H2 moleeules from Cu(111) surfaees Surf. Sc/. 458 63... 

For a RRKM calculation without any approximations, the complete vibrational/rotational Flamiltonian for the imimolecular system is used to calculate the reactant density and transition state s sum of states. No approximations are made regarding the coupling between vibration and rotation. Flowever, for many molecules the exact nature of the coupling between vibration and rotation is uncertain, particularly at high energies, and a model in which rotation and vibration are assumed separable is widely used to calculate the quantum RRKM k(E,J) [4,16]. To illustrate this model, first consider a linear polyatomic molecule which decomposes via a linear transition state. The rotational energy for tire reactant is assumed to be that for a rigid rotor, i.e. 

The same expression applies to the transition state s rotational energy Ei(J) except that the moment of inertia /... 

It is straightforward to introduce active and adiabatic treatments of K into the widely used RRKM model which represents vibration and rotation as separable and the rotations as rigid rotors [41,42]. Eor a synnnetric top, tlie rotational energy is given by... 

If K is adiabatic, a molecule containing total vibrational-rotational energy E and, in a particular J, K level, has a vibrational density of states p[E - EjiJ,K). Similarly, the transition state s sum of states for the same E,J, and Kis [ -Eq-Ef(J,K)]. The RRKM rate constant for the Kadiabatic model is... 

In the experimental and theoretical study of energy transfer processes which involve some of the above mechanisms, one should distingiush processes in atoms and small molecules and in large polyatomic molecules. For small molecules a frill theoretical quantum treatment is possible and even computer program packages are available [, and ], with full state to state characterization. A good example are rotational energy transfer theory and experiments on Fie + CO [M] ... 

If the experunental technique has sufficient resolution, and if the molecule is fairly light, the vibronic bands discussed above will be found to have a fine structure due to transitions among rotational levels in the two states. Even when the individual rotational lines caimot be resolved, the overall shape of the vibronic band will be related to the rotational structure and its analysis may help in identifying the vibronic symmetry. The analysis of the band appearance depends on calculation of the rotational energy levels and on the selection rules and relative intensity of different rotational transitions. These both come from the fonn of the rotational wavefunctions and are treated by angnlar momentum theory. It is not possible to do more than mention a simple example here. 

The simplest case is a transition in a linear molecule. In this case there is no orbital or spin angular momentum. The total angular momentum, represented by tire quantum number J, is entirely rotational angular momentum. The rotational energy levels of each state approximately fit a simple fomuila ... 

Table B2.5.3. Product energy distribution for some IR laser chemical reactions. (E ) is the average relative translational energy of fragments, is the average vibrational and rotational energy of polyatomic fragments, and/ is the fraction of the total product energy appearing as translational energy [109],...

Electronic structure theory describes the motions of the electrons and produces energy surfaces and wavefiinctions. The shapes and geometries of molecules, their electronic, vibrational and rotational energy levels, as well as the interactions of these states with electromagnetic fields lie within the realm of quantum stnicture theory. 

Each and every electronic energy state, labelled k, has a set, labelled L, of vibration/rotation energy levels k,L and wavefiinctions... 

My own research efforts [4] have, for many years, involved taking into account such non-Bom-Oppen-heimer couplings, especially in cases where vibration/rotation energy transferred to electronic motions causes... 

Most infrared spectroscopy of complexes is carried out in tire mid-infrared, which is tire region in which tire monomers usually absorb infrared radiation. Van der Waals complexes can absorb mid-infrared radiation eitlier witli or without simultaneous excitation of intennolecular bending and stretching vibrations. The mid-infrared bands tliat contain tire most infonnation about intennolecular forces are combination bands, in which tire intennolecular vibrations are excited. Such spectra map out tire vibrational and rotational energy levels associated witli monomers in excited vibrational states and, tluis, provide infonnation on interaction potentials involving excited monomers, which may be slightly different from Arose for ground-state molecules. 

The homonuclear rare gas pairs are of special interest as models for intennolecular forces, but they are quite difficult to study spectroscopically. They have no microwave or infrared spectmm. However, their vibration-rotation energy levels can be detennined from their electronic absorjDtion spectra, which he in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) region of the spectmm. In the most recent work, Hennan et al [24] have measured vibrational and rotational frequencies to great precision. In the case of Ar-Ar, the results have been incoriDorated into a multiproperty analysis by Aziz [25] to develop a highly accurate pair potential. 

Far-infrared and mid-infrared spectroscopy usually provide the most detailed picture of the vibration-rotation energy levels in the ground electronic state. However, they are not always possible and other spectroscopic methods are also important. 

Loesoh FI J and Flersehbaeh D R 1972 Ballistio meohanism for vibrational and rotational energy transfer in Ar + Csl oollisions J. Chem. Rhys. 57 2038-50... 

---