Pierre Asselin

The far infrared spectrum of naphthalene characterized by high resolution synchrotron FTIR spectroscopy and anharmonic DFT calculations

Using synchrotron radiation, we performed the rotationally resolved Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy of three bands of naphthalene C10H8, namely ν(46)-0 (centered at 782 cm(-1), 12.7 μm), ν(47)-0 (centered at 474 cm(-1), 21 μm), and ν(48)-0 (centered at 167 cm(-1), 60 μm). The intense CH bending out of plane ν(46)-0 band was recorded under supersonic jet-cooled conditions using a molecular beam (the Jet-AILES apparatus) and the low frequency ν(47)-0 and ν(48)-0 bands were measured at room temperature in a long absorption path cell. The simultaneous rotational analysis of these bands permitted us to refine the ground state (GS) and ν(46) rotational spectroscopic constants and to provide the first sets of constants for the ν(47) and ν(48) modes. The experimental rotational constants were then used as reference data to calibrate theoretical models in order to provide new insights into the accuracy of anharmonic calculations. The B97-1 functional associated with the cc-pVTZ and ANO-RCC basis sets gave a consistent set of results, for rotational constants and fundamental frequencies. The data presented here pave the way for the search of naphthalene through its far-infrared spectrum in different objects of the interstellar medium.

Standard free energy of the equilibrium between the trans-monomer and the cyclic-dimer of acetic acid in the gas phase from infrared spectroscopy.

Survey jet-cooled spectra of acetic acid have been recorded in the infrared region (200-4000 cm(-1)) over a wide range of expansion conditions. From the variations of the relative intensities of the signals, vibrational transitions have been assigned unambiguously to the trans-monomer and cyclic-dimer. The IR-active fundamental frequencies have been determined at the instrumental accuracy of 0.5 cm(-1). This analysis of the jet-cooled spectra supported by electronic structure calculations permitted us to characterize the trans-monomer/cyclic-dimer equilibrium. From static cell spectra at 298 K, variations of the molar fractions ratio as a function of the total pressure were used to estimate the equilibrium constant and the Gibbs free energy of dimerization at 298 K. The very good agreement with the literature data shows that the present method is able to produce, from a single study, a free energy value as reliable as the one obtained from a large collection of data. In addition, the semi-empirical free energy value was used to estimate the accuracy of electronic structure calculations and in turn the accuracy of the derived useful information such as the dissociation energy of the complex (i.e. the strength of the hydrogen bonds) or the relative energies within the conformational landscape.

The cyclic ground state structure of the HF trimer revealed by far infrared jet-cooled Fourier transform spectroscopy

The rovibrationally resolved Fourier transform (FT) far infrared (FIR) spectra of two intermolecular librations of (HF)3, namely the in-plane ν6 and out-of-plane ν4 bending fundamentals centered, respectively, at about 494 cm(-1) and 602 cm(-1), have been recorded for the first time under jet-cooled conditions using the supersonic jet of the Jet-AILES apparatus. The simultaneous rotational analysis of 245 infrared transitions belonging to both bands enabled us to determine the ground state (GS), ν6 and ν4 rotational and centrifugal distortion constants. These results provided definite experimental answers to the structure of such a weakly bound trimer: firstly the vibrationally averaged planarity of cyclic (HF)3, also supported by the very small value of the inertia defect obtained in the GS, secondly the slight weakening of the hydrogen bond in the intermolecular excited states evidenced from the center of mass separations of the HF constituents determined in the ground, ν6 = 1 and ν4 = 1 states of (HF)3 as well as the decrease of the fitted rotational constants upon excitation. Finally, lower bounds of about 2 ns on ν6 and ν4 state lifetimes could be derived from the deconvolution of experimental linewidths. Such long lifetimes highlight the interest in probing low frequency intermolecular motions of molecular complexes to get rid of constraints related to the vibrational dynamics of coupled anharmonic vibrations at higher energy, resulting in loss of rotational information.

High-resolution jet spectroscopy of weakly bound binary complexes involving water

High-resolution rotational and rovibrational spectroscopic studies of weakly bound binary complexes involving water are reviewed. A series of infrared (IR), microwave (MW) and millimetre-wave (MMW) studies is presented and discussed. From a literature overview, the necessity of further investigations of singly solvated molecules, especially in the MMW and IR frequency ranges, becomes apparent. New high-resolution spectroscopic data of weakly bound complexes involving water will help to refine our understanding of their internal dynamics, structures and interaction potentials, leading to the understanding of many physical, chemical and biological processes.

High-resolution spectroscopy of difference and combination bands of SF6 to elucidate the ν3 + ν1 − ν1 and ν3 + ν2 − ν2 hot band structures in the ν3 region

The strong infrared absorption in the ν3 S–F stretching region of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) near 948 cm−1 makes it a powerful greenhouse gas. Although its present concentration in the atmosphere is very low, it is increasing rapidly, due to industrial pollution. The ground state population of this heavy species is only 32% at room temperature and thus many hot bands are present. Consequently, a reliable remote-sensing spectroscopic detection and monitoring of this species require an accurate modelling of these hot bands. We used two experimental set-ups at the SOLEIL French synchrotron facility to record some difference and combination bands of SF6: (1) a new cryogenic multiple pass cell with 93 m optical path length and regulated at 163 ± 2 K temperature and (2) the Jet-AILES supersonic expansion set-up. With this, we could obtain high-resolution absorption spectra of the ν3 − ν1, ν3 − ν2, ν1 + ν3 and ν2 + ν3 bands at low temperature. These spectra could be assigned and analysed, thanks to the SPVIEW and XTDS computer programs developed in Dijon. We performed two global fits of effective Hamiltonian parameters. The first one is a global fit of the ground state, ν2, ν3, ν3 − ν2, ν2 + ν3, 2ν3 and 2ν3 − ν3 rovibrational parameters, using the present spectra and previous infrared, Raman and two-photon absorption data. This allows a consistent refinement of the effective Hamiltonian parameters for all the implied vibrational levels and a new simulation of the 2ν3 + ν2 − ν2 hot band. The second global fit involves the present ν3 − ν1 and ν1 + ν3 lines, together with previous ν1 Raman data, in order to obtain refined ν1 parameters and also ν1 + ν3 parameters in a consistent way. This allows to simulate the ν3 + ν1 − ν1 hot band.

Rovibrational laser jet-cooled spectroscopy of the NH3–Ar complex in the ν2 umbrella region of NH3: comparison between new infrared data and an ab initio calculated spectrum

ABSTRACT Five ortho and para bands of the ν2 umbrella mode of the NH3–Ar van der Waals complex have been recorded at high resolution using jet-cooled infrared laser spectroscopy. A rovibrational analysis provides accurate band centres and upper state rotational constants for the Πs(ju2009=u20091,ku2009=u20090)u2009←u2009Σa(j,ku2009=u20090) and Σs(ju2009=u20091,ku2009=u20090)u2009←u2009Σa(j,ku2009=u20090) ortho bands. The puzzling para bands observed in the region of the lower and upper components of the inversion splitting doublet have been assigned by comparison with rovibrational and tunnelling levels and transitions calculated ab initio. The latter calculations are based on the four-dimensional potential energy surface reported by Loreau et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 141, 224303 (2014)], which takes explicitly into account the umbrella motion of the ammonia molecule. The very good agreement found between Πs/a,lower(ju2009=u20091,ku2009=u20091)u2009←u2009Σa(ju2009=u20091,ku2009=u20091) and Πs/a,upper(ju2009=u20091,ku2009=u20091)u2009←u2009Σs(ju2009=u20091,ku2009=u20091) experimental and calculated transitions has been exploited to determine precisely two different inversion splittings in the ν2 state (32.003(1) and 36.008(1)u2009cm−1) from extrapolated Q(0) line frequencies and to obtain a qualitative picture of Coriolis couplings present in both the ν2u2009=u20090 and ν2u2009=u20091 states. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT