Vibronic Interactions in Molecules and Crystals


Book Description

Vibronic interaction effects constitute a new field of investigation in the physics and chemistry of molecules and crystals that combines all the phenomena and laws originating from the mixing of different electronic states by nuclear displacements. This field is based on a new concept which goes beyond the separate descriptions of electronic and nuclear motions in the adiabatic approximation. Publications on this topic often appear under the title of the lahn-Thller effect, although the area of application of the new approach is much wider: the term vibronic interaction seems to be more appropriate to the field as a whole. The present understanding of the subject was reached only recently, during the last quarter of a century. As a result of intensive development of the theory and experiment, it was shown that the nonadiabatic mixing of close-in-energy elec tronic states under nuclear displacements and the back influence of the modified electronic structure on the nuclear dynamics result in a series of new effects in the properties of molecules and crystals. The applications of the theory of vibronic in of spectroscopy [including visible, ultraviolet, in teractions cover the full range frared, Raman, EPR, NMR, nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR), nuclear gam ma resonance (NOR), photoelectron and x-ray spectroscopy], polarizability and magnetic susceptibility, scattering phenomena, ideal and impurity crystal physics and chemistry (including structural as well as ferroelectric phase transitions), stereochemistry and instability of molecular (including biological) systems, mechanisms of chemical reactions and catalysis.




The Jahn-Teller Effect and Vibronic Interactions in Modern Chemistry


Book Description

The first half of the title of this book may delude the uninitiated reader. The term '"Jahn-Teller effect," taken literally, refers to a special effect inherent in particular molecular systems. Actually, this term implies a new approach to the general problem of correlations between the structure and properties of any molecular polyatomic system, including solids. Just such a new approach, or concept (in some sense, a new outlook or even a new way of thinking), which leads not to one special effect but to a series of different effects and laws, is embodied in the many ( ~ 4000) studies devoted to the investigation and application of the Jahn-Teller effect. The term "vibronic interactions" seems to be most appropriate to the new concept, and this explains the origin of the second half of the title. The primary objective of this book is to present a systematic develop ment of the concept of vibronic interactions and its applications, and to illustrate its possibilities and significance in modern chemistry. In the first three chapters (covering about one-third of the book) the theoretical background of the vibronic concept and Jahn-Teller effect is given. The basic ideas are illustrated fully, although a comprehensive presentation of the theory with all related mathematical deductions is beyond the scope of this book. In the last three chapters the applications of theory to spectro scopy, stereochemistry and crystal chemistry, reactivity, and catalysis, are illustrated by a series of effects and laws.




Symmetry through the Eyes of a Chemist


Book Description

It is gratifying to launch the third edition of our book. Its coming to life testi?es about the task it has ful?lled in the service of the com- nity of chemical research and learning. As we noted in the Prefaces to the ?rst and second editions, our book surveys chemistry from the point of view of symmetry. We present many examples from ch- istry as well as from other ?elds to emphasize the unifying nature of the symmetry concept. Our aim has been to provide aesthetic pl- sure in addition to learning experience. In our ?rst Preface we paid tribute to two books in particular from which we learned a great deal; they have in?uenced signi?cantly our approach to the subject matter of our book. They are Weyl’s classic, Symmetry, and Shubnikov and Koptsik’s Symmetry in Science and Art. The structure of our book has not changed. Following the Int- duction (Chapter 1), Chapter 2 presents the simplest symmetries using chemical and non-chemical examples. Molecular geometry is discussed in Chapter 3. The next four chapters present gro- theoretical methods (Chapter 4) and, based on them, discussions of molecular vibrations (Chapter 5), electronic structures (Chapter 6), and chemical reactions (Chapter 7). For the last two chapters we return to a qualitative treatment and introduce space-group sym- tries (Chapter 8), concluding with crystal structures (Chapter 9). For the third edition we have further revised and streamlined our text and renewed the illustrative material.




Optical Properties of 3d-Ions in Crystals


Book Description

"Optical Properties of 3d-Ions in Crystals: Spectroscopy and Crystal Field Analysis" discusses spectral, vibronic and magnetic properties of 3d-ions in a wide range of crystals, used as active media for solid state lasers and potential candidates for this role. Crystal field calculations (including first-principles calculations of energy levels and absorption spectra) and their comparison with experimental spectra, the Jahn-Teller effect, analysis of vibronic spectra, materials science applications are systematically presented. The book is intended for researchers and graduate students in crystal spectroscopy, materials science and optical applications. Dr. N.M. Avram is an Emeritus Professor at the Physics Department, West University of Timisoara, Romania; Dr. M.G. Brik is a Professor at the Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Estonia.




The Effective Crystal Field Potential


Book Description

As it results from the very nature of things, the spherical symmetry of the surrounding of a site in a crystal lattice or an atom in a molecule can never occur. Therefore, the eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of any bound ion or atom have to differ from those of spherically symmetric respective free ions. In this way, the most simplified concept of the crystal field effect or ligand field effect in the case of individual molecules can be introduced. The conventional notion of the crystal field potential is narrowed to its non-spherical part only through ignoring the dominating spherical part which produces only a uniform energy shift of gravity centres of the free ion terms. It is well understood that the non-spherical part of the effective potential "seen" by open-shell electrons localized on a metal ion plays an essential role in most observed properties. Light adsorption, electron paramagnetic resonance, inelastic neutron scattering and basic characteristics derived from magnetic and thermal measurements, are only examples of a much wider class of experimental results dependent on it. The influence is discerned in all kinds of materials containing unpaired localized electrons: ionic crystals, semiconductors and metallic compounds including materials as intriguing as high-Tc superconductors, or heavy fermion systems. It is evident from the above that we deal with a widespread effect relative to all free ion terms except those which can stand the lowered symmetry, e.g. S-terms. Despite the universality of the phenomenon, the available handbooks on solid state physics pay only marginal attention to it, merely making mention of its occurrence. Present understanding of the origins of the crystal field potential differs essentially from the pioneering electrostatic picture postulated in the twenties. The considerable development of the theory that has been put forward since then can be traced in many regular articles scattered throughout the literature. The last two decades have left their impression as well but, to the authors' best knowledge, this period has not been closed with a more extended review. This has also motivated us to compile the main achievements in the field in the form of a book.




Theory of Chemical Reaction Dynamics


Book Description

Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop, held in Balatonföldvár, Hungary, 8-12 June 2003




Conical Intersections: Electronic Structure, Dynamics & Spectroscopy


Book Description

It is widely recognized nowadays that conical intersections of molecular potential-energy surfaces play a key mechanistic role in the spectroscopy of polyatomic molecules, photochemistry and chemical kinetics. This invaluable book presents a systematic exposition of the current state of knowledge about conical intersections, which has been elaborated in research papers scattered throughout the chemical physics literature.Section I of the book provides a comprehensive analysis of the electronic-structure aspects of conical intersections. Section II shows the importance of conical intersections in chemical reaction dynamics and gives an overview of the computational techniques employed to describe the dynamics at conical intersections. Finally, Section III deals with the role of conical intersections in the fields of molecular spectroscopy and laser control of chemical reaction dynamics.This book has been selected for coverage in:• CC / Physical, Chemical & Earth Sciences• Chemistry Citation Index(tm)• Index to Scientific Book Contents® (ISBC)




The Jahn-Teller Effect in C60 and Other Icosahedral Complexes


Book Description

Because of the high symmetry involved, the Jahn-Teller effect is the natural starting point for considering electron-phonon (or vibronic) interactions in icosahedral molecules. This work is the first comprehensive theoretical analysis of the Jahn-Teller interaction in C60 and other icosahedral complexes. The importance of this research derives in part from the increasing, widespread interest in C60 and other molecular clusters and their application in science and industry. The electrical and spectroscopic properties of fullerene and fulleride compounds depend intimately on the coupling between the electronic and vibrational modes of these systems, and this book addresses the fundamental theoretical questions. In particular, a chapter is devoted to the connection between the theory and experimental observations, such as ESR (electron spin resonance) effects and molecular spectra. Earlier books have discussed the theory of Jahn-Teller interactions in lower symmetry structures (cubic, tetrahedral, tetragonal, trigonal,...); this is the first that focuses on the new icosahedral systems, whose most famous example is Buckminsterfullerene, C60. The book's authors have over fifty years of combined research experience into the theoretical aspects of the Jahn-Teller effect.




Modern Crystallography 2


Book Description

The four-volume treatment Modern Crystallography presents an encyclopaedic exposition of problems concerning the structure of crystals, their growth and their properties. Structure of Crystals deals with crystal structures in inorganic and organic compounds, polymers, liquid crystals, biological crystals and macromolecules.