Structure and dynamics of cationic van-der-Waals clusters

ArnHCl+ van-der-Waals clusters for n = 1–13 are investigated with the “minimal diatomics-in-molecules (DIM) model” using ab-initio input data obtained from multi-reference configuration-interaction calculations plus subsequent projection onto valence-bond wavefunctions. The results for the complexes with n = 1–3 are checked against ab-initio calculations at the coupled-cluster (CCSD) level with the same one-electron atomic basis set as for the input data generation (aug-cc-pVTZ from Dunning). In addition to the electronic ground state, the first excited \(^2\!A^{\prime}\) state for the triatomic complex (n = 1) is also studied. The results from the DIM model are shown to be in fair agreement with those from advanced conventional ab-initio calculations, although there are differences in detail. The comparison justifies the extension of the DIM approach to n > 3. Systematic analysis of the local minima of the multi-dimensional potential-energy surfaces (PESs), carried out with the combined method described in part I (Monte-Carlo sampling plus subsequent steepest-descent optimization), reveals simple building-up regularities for the most stable structures (i.e. those corresponding to the global PES minimum) at each n: apart from always having a nearly linear (Ar–H–Cl)+ fragment as core, the aggregates show little or no symmetry. Secondary local minima are also determined and their structures interpreted. The PESs for the low-lying excited states reveal a much more complicated topography compared to the ArnH+ clusters allowing a variety of photo-processes. The energy level sequence of the first five excited electronic states and the stability of the clusters in these states is studied as a function of the cluster size n.