Ab initio Calculations of the Rotation-Vibration Spectrum of Na3+

Abstract

SCF, 6C-SCF, MP4 and valence-electron full CI calculations were performed in order to determine the potential surface of Na3+. A power series in the variables yi = 1 - exp (-a∆ri), where ∆ri are bond length displacements from equilibrium, has been fitted through the surface obtained and used in a variational rotation-vibration calculations with a basis set of products of Morse-oscillator eigenfunctions and symmetric top rotational wave functions. In contrast to H3+, Na3+ behaves as a very rigid molecule and does not exhibit any anomalous anharmonicity. With our best potential surface, MP4, the predicted E' and A1' fundamental frequencies are 105.1 and 146.7 cm-1, and the harmonic E' and A1' frequencies are 106.5 and 148.3 cm-1.