Electron Dynamics In Molecular Interactions

This volume provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory of electronic motion in molecular processes — an increasingly relevant and rapidly expanding segment of molecular quantum dynamics. Emphasis is placed on describing and interpreting transitions between electronic states in molecules as they occur typically in cases of reactive scattering between molecules, photoexcitation or nonadiabatic coupling between electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom. Electron Dynamics in Molecular Interactions aims at a synoptic presentation of some very recent theoretical efforts to solve the electronic problem in quantum molecular dynamics, contrasting them with more traditional schemes. The presented models are derived from their roots in basic quantum theory, their interrelations are discussed, and their characteristic applications to concrete chemical systems are outlined. This volume also includes an assessment of the present status of electron dynamics and a report on novel developments to meet the current challenges in the field. Further, this monograph responds to a need for a systematic comparative treatise on nonadiabatic theories of quantum molecular dynamics, which are of considerably higher complexity than the more traditional adiabatic approaches and are steadily gaining in importance. This volume addresses a broad readership ranging from physics or chemistry graduate students to specialists in the field of theoretical quantum dynamics. Contents:Preparations:Ab Initio Theory of Electronic StructureThe Adiabatic and the Diabatic RepresentationBasic Concepts of Scattering TheorySemiclassical NotionsOpen Systems: Elements of Rate TheoryMethods:Time-Independent Theory of Molecular Collisions I: Multichannel ScatteringTime-Independent Theory of Molecular Collisions II: The Electronic ProblemThe Time-Dependent Self-consistent Field TheoryEvolution of Coherent Molecular States: Electron Nuclear Dynamics TheoryThe Classical Electron AnalogHopping and SpawningSemiclassical Propagator TechniquesQuantum Hydrodynamics I: Coupled Trajectories in Bohmian MechanicsQuantum Hydrodynamics II: The Semiclassical Liouville-Von Neumann EquationWavepacket Propagation MethodsDensity Functional DynamicsDecoherenceSpecial Topics:Ultrafast Optical SpectroscopyOptical Control of Electron Multistate Molecular DynamicsElectron Transfer in Condensed MediaElectronic Friction in Molecule-Surface Interactions Readership: Graduate students and researchers in physical chemistry and computational physics; industrial chemists and physicists interested in the field. Key Features:This book provides an overview of the recent nonadiabatic theories of quantum molecular dynamics that are widely used and highly acknowledged in the community of physical chemistsThere is currently no other book available in the market that shares the publication scope of this bookIt can be used as a supplementary textbook to graduate level course in quantum chemistry or chemical dynamicsKeywords:Nonadiabatic Processes;Electronic Transitions;Molecular Dynamics;Quantum Trajectories;Wavepacket Propagation

A modern, comprehensive text and reference describing intermolecular forces, this book begins with coverage of the concepts and methods for simpler systems, then moves on to more advanced subjects for complex systems – emphasizing concepts and methods used in calculations with realistic models and compared with empirical data. Contains applications to many physical systems and worked examples Proceeds from introductory material to advanced modern treatments Has relevance for new materials, biological phenomena, and energy and fuels production

This practical book presents an overview of the various approaches developed to understand the dynamics of electronic systems in physics and chemistry. It also illustrates typical application examples, namely atoms, molecules, and clusters such as nano objects. For each system, the book reviews its key features and concepts and also provides a wider perspective on other physical systems such as atomic nuclei and quantum dots. There exist a large number of theories adapted to specific physical situations (both in space and time), but there is not yet a common theory for all possible dynamical scenarios. This book provides a general perspective on the topic, supplying the reader with a guidebook to navigate the wide spectrum of approaches. It provides an overview of available theories to address various problems in the irradiation of finite systems, discussing the possibilities and limitations of the available theories to help readers understand the applicability of a given theory or set of theories to address a given physical problem or chemical situation. It is an ideal guide for graduate students and researchers in physics and chemistry. Key Features: • Presents a critical survey of available theoretical tools to help readers choose the appropriate method or approach for any given physical situations • Accessible, with an emphasis on avoiding details of formal and technical difficulties • Provides a guided tour based on typical examples starting from the actual physical situation down to actual tools to be used to describe it Jorge José Kohanoff is a Professor of Computational Chemical Physics at Queen’s University Belfast, Ireland. Paul-Gerhard Reinhard is a Professor at the Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. Lorenzo Stella is Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Laser-Matter Interactions (CLMI) at the Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom. Eric Suraud is a Distinguished Professor at Paul Sabatier University, France.

Electron-Molecule Interactions and Their Applications, Volume 1 presents a comprehensive account of electron-molecule interactions in high- and ultra-high-pressure gases and liquids. Topics covered include elastic scattering of electrons by molecules; excitation, ionization, and dissociation of molecules by electron impact; electron-molecule resonances; and electron attachment and detachment processes. This volume is comprised of seven chapters and begins with a discussion on non-resonant elastic scattering and rotational excitation of molecules by electrons, followed by a review of non-resonant vibrational and electronic excitation. The reader is then introduced to resonance effects in electron scattering; electron-induced ionization and dissociation of molecules; and electron-molecule resonances. The ionization mechanisms and types of ions produced are highlighted, along with differential ionization cross sections. The final two chapters focus on electron attachment and detachment processes, paying particular attention to modes of electron capture by molecules such as via negative-ion resonant states. The collisional dynamics for a few selected atomic reactants are also described. Physicists will find this book extremely helpful.

There is a unity to physics; it is a discipline which provides the most fundamental understanding of the dynamics of matter and energy. To understand anything about a physical system you have to interact with it and one of the best ways to learn something is to use electrons as probes. This book is the result of a meeting, which took place in Magdalene College Cambridge in December 2001. Atomic, nuclear, cluster, soHd state, chemical and even bio- physicists got together to consider scattering electrons to explore matter in all its forms. Theory and experiment were represented in about equal measure. It was meeting marked by the most lively of discussions and the free exchange of ideas. We all learnt a lot. The Editors are grateful to EPSRC through its Collaborative Computational Project program (CCP2), lOPP, the Division of Atomic, Molecular, Optical and Plasma Physics (DAMOPP) and the Atomic Molecular Interactions group (AMIG) of the Institute of Physics for financial support. The smooth running of the meeting was enormously facilitated by the efficiency and helpfulness of the staff of Magdalene College, for which we are extremely grateful. This meeting marked the end for one of us (CTW) of a ten-year period as a fellow of the College and he would like to take this opportunity to thank the fellows and staff for the privilege of working with them.

Since the first stimulated emission pumping (SEP) experiments more than a decade ago, this technique has proven powerful for studying vibrationally excited molecules. SEP is now widely used by increasing numbers of research groups to investigate fundamental problems in spectroscopy, intramolecular dynamics, intermolecular interactions, and even reactions. SEP provides rotationally pre-selected spectra of vibrationally highly excited molecules undergoing large amplitude motions. A unique feature of SEP is the ability to access systematically a wide variety of extreme excitations localized in various parts of a molecule, and to prepare populations in specific, high vibrational levels. SEP has made it possible to ask and answer specific questions about intramolecular vibrational redistribution and the role of vibrational excitation in chemical reactions.