In this exercise, you will calculate the rovibrational spectrum of a diatomic molecule of interest (e.g.HCl) using different levels of theory: a normal mode analysis and ab initio methods.  

Normal Mode Analysis:  

As a first approximation, you will use the harmonic oscillator / rigid rotor approximation to calculate the fundamental vibrational frequency, $v_0\,$ and rotational energies. In this approximation,  the total rovibrational energy is given by Eq. (1):

$E_{n\,l} \= {\mathrm{hv}}_0\left(n\+\frac{1}{2}\right)\+\frac{l\left(l\+1\right){\mathrm{\hslash }}^2}{2 \mathrm{\μ}{ R_0}^2}$     (1)  

where n = 0, 1, 2, ... is the vibrational quantum number, l = 0, 1, 2, ... is the rotational quantum number, $R_0$is the equilibrium bond distance, and μ is the reduced mass of the diatomic.  

Using the Bohr correspondence principle, one can calculate a given transition between any two rovibrational states.  However, selection rules for a rotating/vibrating heteronuclear diatomic are Δl = ±1 and Δn = ±1.  Therefore, the (0,0) --> (1,0) fundamental transition would not be observed. What would be observed are the P-branch (corresponding to all transitions with Δl = -1) and the R-branch (all transitions corresponding to Δl = +1):

P-branch:   $\mathrm{\ΔE}\= E_{1\, l-1} -$$E_{0\,l}$ = $\frac{\mathrm{hc}}{\mathrm{\λ}}$(2)

R-branch:   $\mathrm{\ΔE}\= E_{1\, l\+1} -$$E_{0\,l}$ = $\frac{\mathrm{hc}}{\mathrm{\λ}}$(3)

Transition energies are typically expressed in wavenumbers (${\mathrm{cm}}^{-1}$):

$\frac{\mathrm{\ΔE}}{\mathrm{hc}}\=\frac{1}{\mathrm{\λ}\left(\mathrm{cm}\right)}\= \tilde{v}$.        (4)

You will use the GeometryOptimization function to calculate $R_0$ for the diatomic of interest and then use the VibrationalModes function to calculate the fundamental frequency, $\tilde{v}$${}_0\.\mathit{ }$You will then calculate the rotational energies given by the second term in Eq. (1) for l = 0, 1, ..., $l_{\max }$.  You will then calculate P- and R-branches according to Eqs. (2) and (3) and compare to experimental values.    

Ab Initio Calculation

While the above approximation is simple, more sophisticated methods can be used to capture the inherent anharmonicity in the system. In the second portion of this activity, you will calculate the potential energy surface (PES), V(R), using density functional theory (DFT) and the 6-31g basis set for a range of internuclear distances, R.   Once V(R) has been constructed, the nuclear Schrodinger equation is given by

$\stackrel{\wedge }{H}$ ${\mathrm{\Ψ}}_{n\,l}$(R) = $E_{n\,l}$ ${\mathrm{\Psi }}_{n\,l}$(R).           (5)

where ${\mathrm{\Ψ}}_{n\,l}$is the corresponding rovibrational wavefunction, and the Hamiltonian, $\stackrel{\wedge }{H}$, is given by

$\stackrel{\wedge }{H}$ = -$\frac{{\mathrm{\ℏ}}^2}{2 \mathrm{\μ}}\frac{1}{R}\frac{\ⅆ}{\ⅆ R}\+V\left(R\right)\+\frac{l\left(l\+1\right){\mathrm{\hslash }}^2}{2 \mathrm{\μ} R^2}\,$(6)

While the details of how one solves Eq. (5) are beyond the scope of this exercise, the variational principle is used:  represent Eq. (5) in an underlying basis representation for Ψ and diagonalize the resulting matrix to get energy eigenvalues, $E_{n\,l}$.  (For more on matrix representations and the variational principle, see Variational Theorem exercise).  Once $E_{n\,l}$ values have been calculated, the transition frequencies can again be calculated using the appropriate selection rules and Eqs. (2) and (3), and the results can be compared to experiment.

We begin by specifying the atoms in our diatomic.  Note that the energy levels and spacings will depend on the isotopes we specify!  The variables elementA and elementB are the element symbols for the atoms in our diatomic, and MassNumberA and MassNumberB are their respective mass numbers (integers).    The variables Rmin and Rmax define the range over which the PES is computed and determine the level of accuracy of the vibrational calculation. The smaller the range, the quicker the calculation but the less accurate the results.  Start with a reasonable guess and proceed through each step to calculate the fundamental frequency.  Vary Rmin and Rmax until some acceptable level of convergence has been reached.  Once this has been done, Rmin and Rmax remain fixed for the different electronic structure methods and basis sets.

Finally, we specify the electronic structure method and basis set here.  Begin with ESmethod = HartreeFock and AObasis = "sto-3g" and proceed.  Once the fundamental has been calculated, repeat each step with a new basis and/or method.

In this section, calculate the fundamental mode of the diatomic using a normal mode analysis, which approximates the vibration of the diatomic as a harmonic oscillator.  First define the molecule with a bond length of 1 Angstrom and then use the GeometryOptimization function to redefine the molecule with the optimum bond length for the desired method and basis. Then use the VibrationalModes function to determine the energy (in wavenumbers) of the fundamental.  Calculate the percent error.

Now, consider the rovibrational transitions allowed for a heteronuclear diatomic AB.   The vibrational selection rules are Δv = Δ±1,  Δl = ±1. Therefore, for transitions between v = 0 --> v = 1, there is a manifold of Δl = ±1 lines.

P-branch: Dl = -1

R-branch: Dl = +1

What do you notice about the spacing between lines in the P-branch?  in the R-branch? Are these observations consistent with an experimental IR spectrum of the diatomic AB?

	Answer
	There is equal spacing between lines in both P and R branches. This is consistent with a rigid rotor approximation!