Quantum Nuclear Delocalization and its Rovibrational Fingerprints

Quantum mechanics dictates that nuclei must undergo some delocalization. In this work, emergence of quantum nuclear delocalization and its rovibrational fingerprints are discussed for the case of the van der Waals complex . The equilibrium structure of is planar and T‐shaped, one He atom solvating t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Angewandte Chemie 2023-10, Vol.135 (41)
Main Authors: Simkó, Irén, Schran, Christoph, Brieuc, Fabien, Fábri, Csaba, Asvany, Oskar, Schlemmer, Stephan, Marx, Dominik, Császár, Attila G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemistry
Chromophores
Distribution functions
Excitation
Fingerprints
Quantum mechanics
Spatial distribution
Topology
Toruses
Vibrational states
Vibrations
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Summary:Quantum mechanics dictates that nuclei must undergo some delocalization. In this work, emergence of quantum nuclear delocalization and its rovibrational fingerprints are discussed for the case of the van der Waals complex . The equilibrium structure of is planar and T‐shaped, one He atom solvating the quasi‐linear He−H + −He core. The dynamical structure of , in all of its bound states, is fundamentally different. As revealed by spatial distribution functions and nuclear densities, during the vibrations of the molecule the solvating He is not restricted to be in the plane defined by the instantaneously bent chomophore, but freely orbits the central proton, forming a three‐dimensional torus around the chromophore. This quantum delocalization is observed for all vibrational states, the type of vibrational excitation being reflected in the topology of the nodal surfaces in the nuclear densities, showing, for example, that intramolecular bending involves excitation along the circumference of the torus.
ISSN:0044-8249
1521-3757
DOI:10.1002/ange.202306744