149 research outputs found

    Formation and dynamics of van der Waals molecules in buffer-gas traps

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    We show that weakly bound He-containing van der Waals molecules can be produced and magnetically trapped in buffer-gas cooling experiments, and provide a general model for the formation and dynamics of these molecules. Our analysis shows that, at typical experimental parameters, thermodynamics favors the formation of van der Waals complexes composed of a helium atom bound to most open-shell atoms and molecules, and that complex formation occurs quickly enough to ensure chemical equilibrium. For molecular pairs composed of a He atom and an S-state atom, the molecular spin is stable during formation, dissociation, and collisions, and thus these molecules can be magnetically trapped. Collisional spin relaxations are too slow to affect trap lifetimes. However, helium-3-containing complexes can change spin due to adiabatic crossings between trapped and untrapped Zeeman states, mediated by the anisotropic hyperfine interaction, causing trap loss. We provide a detailed model for Ag3He molecules, using ab initio calculation of Ag-He interaction potentials and spin interactions, quantum scattering theory, and direct Monte Carlo simulations to describe formation and spin relaxation in this system. The calculated rate of spin-change agrees quantitatively with experimental observations, providing indirect evidence for molecular formation in buffer-gas-cooled magnetic traps.Comment: 20 pages, 13 figure

    Mn12_{12}-Acetate Complexes Studied as Single Molecules

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    The phenomenon of single molecule magnet (SMM) behavior of mixed valent Mn12 coordination clusters of general formula [MnIII^{III}8_{8}MnIV^{IV}4_{4}O12_{12}(RCOO)16_{16}(H2_{2}O)4_{4}] had been exemplified by bulk samples of the archetypal [MnIII^{III}8_{8}MnIV^{IV}4_{4}O12_{12}(CH3_{3}COO)16_{16}(H2_{2}O)4_{4}] (4) molecule, and the molecular origin of the observed magnetic behavior has found support from extensive studies on the Mn12 system within crystalline material or on molecules attached to a variety of surfaces. Here we report the magnetic signature of the isolated cationic species [Mn12_{12}O12_{12}(CH3_{3}COO)15_{15}(CH3_{3}CN)]+^{+} (1) by gas phase X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD) spectroscopy, and we find it closely resembling that of the corresponding bulk samples. Furthermore, we report broken symmetry DFT calculations of spin densities and single ion tensors of the isolated, optimized complexes [Mn12_{12}O12_{12}(CH3_{3}COO)15_{15}(CH3_{3}CN)]+^{+} (1), [[Mn12_{12}O12_{12}(CH3_{3}COO)16_{16}] (2), [Mn12_{12}O12_{12}(CH3_{3}COO)16_{16}(H2_{2}O)4_{4}] (3), and the complex in bulk geometry [MnIII^{III}8_{8}MnIV^{IV}4_{4}O12_{12}(CH3_{3}COO)16_{16}(H2_{2}O)4_{4}] (5). The found magnetic fingerprints – experiment and theory alike – are of a remarkable robustness: The MnIV^{IV}4_{4} core bears almost no magnetic anisotropy while the surrounding MnIII8 ring is highly anisotropic. These signatures are truly intrinsic properties of the Mn12_{12} core scaffold within all of these complexes and largely void of the environment. This likely holds irrespective of bulk packing effects

    Complex lithium ion dynamics in simulated LiPO3 glass studied by means of multi-time correlation functions

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    Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to study the lithium jumps in LiPO3 glass. In particular, we calculate higher-order correlation functions that probe the positions of single lithium ions at several times. Three-time correlation functions show that the non-exponential relaxation of the lithium ions results from both correlated back-and-forth jumps and the existence of dynamical heterogeneities, i.e., the presence of a broad distribution of jump rates. A quantitative analysis yields that the contribution of the dynamical heterogeneities to the non-exponential depopulation of the lithium sites increases upon cooling. Further, correlated back-and-forth jumps between neighboring sites are observed for the fast ions of the distribution, but not for the slow ions and, hence, the back-jump probability depends on the dynamical state. Four-time correlation functions indicate that an exchange between fast and slow ions takes place on the timescale of the jumps themselves, i.e., the dynamical heterogeneities are short-lived. Hence, sites featuring fast and slow lithium dynamics, respectively, are intimately mixed. In addition, a backward correlation beyond the first neighbor shell for highly mobile ions and the presence of long-range dynamical heterogeneities suggest that fast ion migration occurs along preferential pathways in the glassy matrix. In the melt, we find no evidence for correlated back-and-forth motions and dynamical heterogeneities on the length scale of the next-neighbor distance.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figure

    Outer-Sphere Contributions to the Electronic Structure of Type Zero Copper Proteins

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    Bioinorganic canon states that active-site thiolate coordination promotes rapid electron transfer (ET) to and from type 1 copper proteins. In recent work, we have found that copper ET sites in proteins also can be constructed without thiolate ligation (called “type zero” sites). Here we report multifrequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data together with density functional theory (DFT) and spectroscopy-oriented configuration interaction (SORCI) calculations for type zero Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin variants. Wild-type (type 1) and type zero copper centers experience virtually identical ligand fields. Moreover, O-donor covalency is enhanced in type zero centers relative that in the C112D (type 2) protein. At the same time, N-donor covalency is reduced in a similar fashion to type 1 centers. QM/MM and SORCI calculations show that the electronic structures of type zero and type 2 are intimately linked to the orientation and coordination mode of the carboxylate ligand, which in turn is influenced by outer-sphere hydrogen bonding

    TURBOMOLE: Modular program suite for ab initio quantum-chemical and condensed-matter simulations

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    TURBOMOLE is a collaborative, multi-national software development project aiming to provide highly efficient and stable computational tools for quantum chemical simulations of molecules, clusters, periodic systems, and solutions. The TURBOMOLE software suite is optimized for widely available, inexpensive, and resource-efficient hardware such as multi-core workstations and small computer clusters. TURBOMOLE specializes in electronic structure methods with outstanding accuracy–cost ratio, such as density functional theory including local hybrids and the random phase approximation (RPA), GW-Bethe–Salpeter methods, second-order Møller–Plesset theory, and explicitly correlated coupled-cluster methods. TURBOMOLE is based on Gaussian basis sets and has been pivotal for the development of many fast and low-scaling algorithms in the past three decades, such as integral-direct methods, fast multipole methods, the resolution-of-the-identity approximation, imaginary frequency integration, Laplace transform, and pair natural orbital methods. This review focuses on recent additions to TURBOMOLE’s functionality, including excited-state methods, RPA and Green’s function methods, relativistic approaches, high-order molecular properties, solvation effects, and periodic systems. A variety of illustrative applications along with accuracy and timing data are discussed. Moreover, available interfaces to users as well as other software are summarized. TURBOMOLE’s current licensing, distribution, and support model are discussed, and an overview of TURBOMOLE’s development workflow is provided. Challenges such as communication and outreach, software infrastructure, and funding are highlighted

    TURBOMOLE: Modular program suite for ab initio quantum-chemical and condensed-matter simulations

    Get PDF
    TURBOMOLE is a collaborative, multi-national software development project aiming to provide highly efficient and stable computational tools for quantum chemical simulations of molecules, clusters, periodic systems, and solutions. The TURBOMOLE software suite is optimized for widely available, inexpensive, and resource-efficient hardware such as multi-core workstations and small computer clusters. TURBOMOLE specializes in electronic structure methods with outstanding accuracy–cost ratio, such as density functional theory including local hybrids and the random phase approximation (RPA), GW-Bethe–Salpeter methods, second-order Møller–Plesset theory, and explicitly correlated coupled-cluster methods. TURBOMOLE is based on Gaussian basis sets and has been pivotal for the development of many fast and low-scaling algorithms in the past three decades, such as integral-direct methods, fast multipole methods, the resolution-of-the-identity approximation, imaginary frequency integration, Laplace transform, and pair natural orbital methods. This review focuses on recent additions to TURBOMOLE’s functionality, including excited-state methods, RPA and Green’s function methods, relativistic approaches, high-order molecular properties, solvation effects, and periodic systems. A variety of illustrative applications along with accuracy and timing data are discussed. Moreover, available interfaces to users as well as other software are summarized. TURBOMOLE’s current licensing, distribution, and support model are discussed, and an overview of TURBOMOLE’s development workflow is provided. Challenges such as communication and outreach, software infrastructure, and funding are highlighted

    New Strategies in Modeling Electronic Structures and Properties with Applications to Actinides

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    This chapter discusses contemporary quantum chemical methods and provides general insights into modern electronic structure theory with a focus on heavy-element-containing compounds. We first give a short overview of relativistic Hamiltonians that are frequently applied to account for relativistic effects. Then, we scrutinize various quantum chemistry methods that approximate the NN-electron wave function. In this respect, we will review the most popular single- and multi-reference approaches that have been developed to model the multi-reference nature of heavy element compounds and their ground- and excited-state electronic structures. Specifically, we introduce various flavors of post-Hartree--Fock methods and optimization schemes like the complete active space self-consistent field method, the configuration interaction approach, the Fock-space coupled cluster model, the pair-coupled cluster doubles ansatz, also known as the antisymmetric product of 1 reference orbital geminal, and the density matrix renormalization group algorithm. Furthermore, we will illustrate how concepts of quantum information theory provide us with a qualitative understanding of complex electronic structures using the picture of interacting orbitals. While modern quantum chemistry facilitates a quantitative description of atoms and molecules as well as their properties, concepts of quantum information theory offer new strategies for a qualitative interpretation that can shed new light onto the chemistry of complex molecular compounds.Comment: 43 pages, 3 figures, Version of Recor
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