Ab initio calculations of alkaline diatomic molecule
interactions
with alkaline atoms provide detailed information about their electronic
structure, vibrational frequencies, and spectroscopic properties,
which are difficult to measure experimentally. This knowledge can
aid in designing and interpreting experiments and guide the development
of computational models and advanced dynamical calculation. Using
the quantum chemistry ab initio methods based on multi-reference configuration
interaction with Davidson correction (MCSCF/MRCI + Q), atomic effective
core potentials, core-polarization potentials, and the interactions
between the sodium atom and the NaRb diatomic molecule are investigated.
To describe the potential energy surfaces of the RbNa2 system,
we introduce two geometries described in the Z-matrix coordinates
(R
e, R, θ). Potential
energy surfaces of the ground state 12A′ and the
first excited state 22A′ were calculated for different
approach directions of the sodium atom to the NaRb molecule and two
geometries were considered. The first geometry is where the Na atom
approaches the Rb atom of the RbNa dimer, and the second one is when
it approaches the Na atom of the RbNa dimer. Global minima of the
ground and first excited states and conical intersections between
these states are determined for both geometries. The RbNa dimer in
interaction with the sodium atom is found to be strongly attractive
in its first excited state, which may be important for the experimenters
particularly in the field of cold alkali polar dimers. Thereafter,
the potential energy curves correlated to the lowest-lying dissociation
limits are calculated in the linear form for the two geometrical cases
(angle θ at 180°) and the atomic arrangement effect is
observed.