Ab initio potential energy curves of CO are calculated to address a number of problems remaining in the interpretation of the experimental VUV absorption spectra. The calculations are of the type SCF MRSD-CI. We employed the aug-cc-pVQZ basis set for both carbon and oxygen, augmented with twelve diffuse functions, of s-, p-, and d-type, located on both atomic centers. We focus on the energy region 85,000 cm(-1) < E < 110,000 cm(-1) characterized by strong interactions between Rydberg and valence states. In this work we deal specifically with the (1)Sigma(+), (1)Pi, and (3)Pi states lying in this region. Some of the relevant findings are as follows: The minimum of the C'(1)Sigma(+) valence state is found 1920 cm(-1) above the value inferred from an extrapolation of experimental data. A new (1)Pi valence state, labeled E', is found to perturb strongly the (X(2)Sigma(+))3ppi E(1)Pi Rydberg state. The electrostatic perturbation of the (X(2)Sigma(+))3ppi c(3)Pi Rydberg state by the k(3)Pi valence state is confirmed. The energy position of the (A(2)Pi)3ssigma (3)Pi state, the triplet companion of the W(1)Pi Rydberg state, is predicted.

Ab initio MRD-CI electronic structure calculations were carried out on the NH ϩ cation. A basis set of DZ ϩ POL quality augmented with Rydberg and bond functions was employed, together with an extensive treatment of electron correlation. We find four new bound electronic states of NH ϩ , namely, three doublets ( 2 ⌬, 2 ⌺ ϩ , 2 ⌺ ϩ ) and one sextet ( 6 ⌸). A fifth bound electronic state, a quartet ( 4 ⌸) that was reported schematically in an early SCF study (Liu, H. P. D.; Verhaegen, G. J Chem Phys 1970, 53(2), 735), is calculated for the first time over a wide range of NOH distances. Electronic energies, potential energy curves, and spectroscopic constants are reported for these five states. Vertical and adiabatic excitation and ionization energies are reported, as well as vertical de-excitation energies for emission from the novel states to lower-lying bound states. The potential energy curve of NH 2ϩ (X 1 ⌺ ϩ ) was also calculated to aid in the discussion of a Rydberg bound state of NH ϩ . It is hoped that the information reported in this article will be helpful in guiding the experimental detection of these species.

ABSTRACT:We report ab initio self-consistent field MRSD-CI electronic structure calculations of the NH ϩ cation. A basis set of DZ ϩ POL quality augmented with Rydberg and bond functions was employed together with an extensive treatment of electron correlation. More than 50 electronic states of NH ϩ are reported, including doublets, quartets, and sextets. Leading configurations, vertical ionization energies of NH, vertical excitation energies of NH ϩ , and potential energy curves are reported. Spectroscopic properties calculated for the known bound electronic states of NH ϩ are found in good agreement with experiment.

We report an ab initio study of the quintet states of molecular oxygen. The calculations are carried out employing the multireference single and double excitation configuration interaction package. Potential energy curves of the six quintet valence states dissociating into ground state atoms and of the four quintet states dissociating to ion-pair atoms were computed. A number of bound quintet Rydberg series converging to the a(4)Πu and b(4)Σg(-) states of the O2(+) cation have been identified.

Ab initio electronic structure calculations of a relatively large number of Rydberg states of the CH radical were carried out employing the multireference single and double excitation configuration interaction (MRD-CI) method. A Gaussian basis set of cc-pV5Z quality augmented with 12 diffuse functions was used together with an extensive treatment of electron correlation. The main focus of this contribution is to investigate the 3d Rydberg complex assigned by Watson [Astrophys. J. 555, 472 (2001)] to three unidentified interstellar bands. The authors' calculations reproduce quite well the absolute excitation energies of the three components of the 3d complex, i.e., 2Sigma+(3dsigma), 2Pi(3dpi), and 2Delta(3ddelta), but not the energy ordering inferred from a rotational assignment of the 3d<--X 2Pi laboratory spectrum. The computation of the 4d complex is reported for the first time along with a number of other higher lying Rydberg species with an X 1Sigma+ core. The lowest Rydberg states belonging to series converging to the a 3Pi and A 1Pi excited states of CH+ are also calculated.