Infrared atmospheric emission and absorption by simple molecular complexes, from first principles

• Quantum chemical methods are used to obtain the interaction-induced dipole surfaces (IDS) of complexes of two interacting (i.e. colliding) molecules, for example H2–H2, H2–He, etc., collisional complexes, along with their potential energy surfaces (PES). Eight H2 bond distances, from 0.942 to 2.801 bohr, are chosen for each H2 molecule to account for rotovibrational excitations. Rotovibrational matrix elements of these ID and PE surfaces are computed as necessary for the study of supermolecular (‘collision-induced’) absorption spectra of dense hydrogen gas, and of gaseous mixtures of hydrogen and helium, at temperatures up to several thousand kelvin and for frequencies from 0 to those of several H2 overtone bands. Rotovibrational state to state scattering calculations couple the collisional complex perturbatively to single photons. The absorption process causes rotovibrational transitions in one molecule, or simultaneous transitions in both molecules (when H2–H2 collisional complexes are considered). The spectral profiles of tens of thousands of such transitions are computed from first principles. Individual ‘lines’ are very broad so that they overlap substantially, forming a supermolecular quasi-continuum. The comparison of the computed collision-induced absorption (CIA) spectra with existing laboratory measurements at low temperatures (≤ 300 K) shows close agreement so that our results for higher temperatures, where laboratory experiments do not exist, may be used with confidence. Similar calculations of CIA spectra at high temperatures and frequencies are underway for other collisional systems (e.g. H2–H) of interest in astrophysical applications (e.g. ‘cool’ stellar atmospheres). Collision-induced Raman spectra (CIRS) have been similarly obtained; computed Raman spectra also compare favourably with existing laboratory measurements.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Annan fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Other Physics Topics (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Fysikalisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Physical Chemistry (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Atom- och molekylfysik och optik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Tillämpad fysik

Tillämpad fysik

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)