The first potential energy surfaces for the C{sub 6}H{sup −}–H{sub 2} and C{sub 6}H{sup −}–He collisional systems and their corresponding inelastic cross sections
- LOMC-UMR 6294, CNRS-Université du Havre, 25 rue Philippe Lebon, BP 1123, 76 063 Le Havre Cedex (France)
- Department of Chemistry, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri 65409 (United States)
Molecular anions have recently been detected in the interstellar and circumstellar media. Accurate modeling of their abundance requires calculations of collisional data with the most abundant species that are usually He atoms and H{sub 2} molecules. In this paper, we focus on the collisional excitation of the first observed molecular anion, C{sub 6}H{sup −}, by He and H{sub 2}. Theoretical calculations of collisional cross sections rely generally on ab initio interaction potential energy surfaces (PESs). Hence, we present here the first PESs for the C{sub 6}H{sup −}–H{sub 2} and C{sub 6}H{sup −}–He van der Waals systems. The ab initio energy data for the surfaces were computed at the explicitly correlated coupled cluster with single, double, and scaled perturbative triple excitations level of theory. The method of interpolating moving least squares was used to construct 4D and 2D analytical PESs from these data. Both surfaces are characterized by deep wells and large anisotropies. Analytical models of the PESs were used in scattering calculations to obtain cross sections for low-lying rotational transitions. As could have been anticipated, important differences exist between the He and H{sub 2} cross sections. Conversely, no significant differences exist between the collisions of C{sub 6}H{sup −} with the two species of H{sub 2} (para- and ortho-H{sub 2}). We expect that these new data will help in accurately determining the abundance of the C{sub 6}H{sup −} anions in space.
- OSTI ID:
- 22675926
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 145, Issue 2; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-9606
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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