Photoelectron spectroscopy of the Cl−…H2∕D2 anions: A model beyond the rotationless and Franck–Condon approximations

Abstract

A model for simulating photoelectron spectra of the triatomic van der Waals complexes containing stable atomic anion and diatomic molecule is proposed and applied to the Cl(-)...H(2) and Cl(-)...D(2) anions. The model assumes adiabatic separation of the electronic and nuclear motions and localization of the photodetachment act at the atomic chromophore. Under these approximations, the electronic transition dipole moment matrix elements are evaluated using the atoms-in-molecule approach and explicit expressions for the rovibrational line strength factors are derived. The energies and intensities of a number of rovibronic photoelectron transitions are calculated for the Cl(-)...H(2) and Cl(-)...D(2) anions within the adiabatic bender model, i.e., with the full separation of the vibrational motions, whereas the simulations of the broad spectral envelopes are performed using the equilibrium conditions, asymmetric line shape function, and two choices of the relative abundances of the para- and ortho-forms of the complex. The simulations reproduce experimental spectra reasonably well allowing for their unambiguous assignment in terms of vibronic transitions fully consistent with the previous time-dependent calculations. Agreement with the previous theoretical works, manifestations of non-Franck-Condon effects, and implications to the assessment of the neutral potential energy surfaces are discussed.