Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Komornicki, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Komornicki, A..

Analytic computation of energy derivatives - Relationships among partial derivatives of a variationally determined function

Formulas are presented relating Taylor series expansion coefficients of three functions of several variables, the energy of the trial wave function (W), the energy computed using the optimized variational wave function (E), and the response function (lambda), under certain conditions. Partial derivatives of lambda are obtained through solution of a recursive system of linear equations, and solution through order n yields derivatives of E through order 2n + 1, extending Puley's application of Wigner's 2n + 1 rule to partial derivatives in couple perturbation theory. An examination of numerical accuracy shows that the usual two-term second derivative formula is less stable than an alternative four-term formula, and that previous claims that energy derivatives are stationary properties of the wave function are fallacious. The results have application to quantum theoretical methods for the computation of derivative properties such as infrared frequencies and intensities.

King, H. F.↗

Conformational properties, torsional potential, and vibrational force field for methacryloyl fluoride - An ab initio investigation

The structure, torsional potentials, vibrational spectra, and harmonic force fields for s-cis and s-trans isomers of methacryloyl fluoride are examined to understand the conformational properties of the molecules and their relationship to macroscopic polymer properties. The structure is found to be in good agreement with experiment. It is shown by calculations that the energy difference between the cis and the transisomers is less than 1 kcal/mol at both the split valence and the split valence polarized levels, with the trans form favored. Analysis of the torsional potentials indicates that a rigid rotor model provides a reasonable description of the motion of the COF group in the molecule. The torsional barrier to interconvert the s-trans to the s-cis form is found to be 7.0 kcal/mol. A fit of the data to a three-term Fourier series shows that it is possible to reproduce the experimentally derived barrier, even though a direct determination indicates that the barrier is higher.

Laskowski, B. C.↗

Energetics of the protonation of CO - Implications for the observation of HOC(+) in dense interstellar clouds

A number of molecular species on the H3CO(+) energy hypersurface is examined. Ab initio molecular orbital theory is used to determine the structures and relative energetics of the two isomers of HCO(+) and HOC(+) together with the affinity of CO for protonation at either end. The proton affinities of H2 and H2CO are also examined. The calculations are performed using large basis sets and include the effects of electron correlation. The calculated vibrational frequencies are used to correct for zero point energy differences. The results show that the proton affinities of H2 and CO to form HOC(+) are within 1 kcal of each other. The calculations demonstrate that there is no thermodynamic driving force to form HOC(+) in collisions of H3(+) with CO, and that the formation of HCO(+) in such collisions is very exoergic. A plausible mechanism is suggested to explain the differences observed between the laboratory and the interstellar medium.

Dixon, D.↗

On the extension of the MCSCF/CI method

Research conducted during this period was focused on two main areas: (1) bonding in transition metal oxides; and (2) adsorption of CO on Al and Ni. In both of these theoretical studies a major interest was to obtain a better understanding of the nature of the bonding in transition metal containing systems. The studies used self consistent field (SCF), multi-configuration self cosistent field (MCSCF) and configuration interaction (CI) methods in the treatment of the transition metal oxides and only the SCF method in the adsorption studies. The reports of three principle investigators who contributed to this work during the tenure of the project are presented along with associated published papers.

Bauschlicher, C., Jr.↗

Ab initio infrared and Raman spectra

It is pointed out that with increased computer power and improved computational techniques, such as the gradients developed in recent years, it is becoming practical to compute spectra ab initio, from the fundamental constants of nature, for systems of increasing complexity. The present investigation has the objective to explore several possible ab initio approaches to spectra, giving particular attention to infrared and nonresonance Raman. Two approaches are discussed. The sequential approach, in which first the electronic part and then later the nuclear part of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation is solved, is appropriate for small systems. The simultaneous approach, in which the electronic and nuclear parts are solved at the same time, is more appropriate for many-atom systems. A review of the newer quantum gradient techniques is provided, and the infrared and Raman spectral band contours for the water molecule are computed.

Fredkin, D. R.↗

A theoretical study on the mechanism of electronic to vibrational energy transfer in Hg/3P/ + CO

The mechanism of electronic-to-vibrational (E-V) energy transfer in Hg(3P) + CO collisions has been studied theoretically. The configuration interaction (CI) method was employed to calculate potential energy surfaces of the collision system. A simplified theoretical model, based on the reaction coordinate concept and the calculated potential energy characteristics, was used to discuss the mechanism of the singlet-triplet transition and the energy disposal in the collision. The results obtained were that: (a) the quenching process processed via a collision complex mechanism; and that (b) the triplet-singlet transition occurs near the collinear geometry. A model classical trajectory calculation gives a product CO vibrational distribution in good agreement with the experimental result.

Kato, S.↗

Semiclassical study of the quenching of excited-state fluorine atom by hydrogen molecule - Comparison between reactive and nonreactive processes

Semiclassical calculations are carried out for the quenching of excited-state fluorine atom by collinear collisions with hydrogen molecule. The overall quenching probability is the sum of two contributions: the reactive quenching probability associated with the formation of hydrogen fluoride and the nonreactive quenching probability leading to ground-state fluorine atom and hydrogen molecule. The reactive probability is greater in the threshold region of the collision energy, whereas the nonreactive probability dominates for energies above the threshold region.

Yuan, J.-M.↗

An ab initio investigation of the structure, vibrational frequencies, and intensities of HO2 and HOCl

The infrared spectral intensities for HOCl and HO2 have been calculated using a new ab initio technique. Theoretical results for the geometries, vibrational frequencies, and the dipole moments of these species are also reported. All of the calculations were performed at the SCF level using near Hartree-Fock quality basis sets. The results for the molecular geometries and the vibrational frequencies are in good agreement with available experimental data. It is believed that the computed intensities are accurate to at least 50%. The results should be helpful in attempts to determine the stratospheric abundance of HOCl and HO2 by in situ infrared spectroscopic measurements.

Komornicki, A.↗

Semiclassical dynamics on multiple electronic surfaces - Three-dimensional treatment of reactive F + H2

The role of electron transitions in collisions is studied for the F + H2 reaction by combining quasi-classical Monte Carlo trajectories with a semiclassical decoupling approximation for the electron transitions. Attention is directed at the reaction of excited state F atoms reacting to form ground state products; the reactants are initiated in either of two spin-orbit states of the atom with the diatom in the ground vibrational state and the lowest four rotational states, at relative translational energies of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 eV. Even if the reactants are initiated on the excited state surface, the reactive cross sections (which are classically forbidden) are significant. The major dynamical effects of the excited state reaction are the flow of reactant electronic energy into product internal energy.

Komornicki, A.↗