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Ground and excited electronic state analysis of PrF²⁺ and PmF²⁺
George Schoendorff1, Benjamin Chi, Hans Ajieren
1Department of Chemistry and Center for Advanced Scientific Computing and Modeling (CASCaM), University of North Texas , Denton, Texas 76203-5017, United States.
Abstract:
The ground state and excited state manifolds are computed for PrF(2+) and PmF(2+) at the CASSCF (n,8) level of theory where the active space spans the Ln 4f orbitals as well as the F 2pz orbital. Dynamical correlation is included using second-order multireference quasidegenerate perturbation theory (MCQDPT2). The spin-orbit multiplets for each of the excited states are resolved, and spin-orbit coupling constants are computed using the Breit-Pauli spin-orbit operator. Equilibrium geometries for each of the ground and excited states are computed, and the nature of the Ln-F bond is examined. Potential energy curves for the lowest four triplet states and lowest two quintet states are computed for PrF(2+), which split into 14 levels upon application of the spin-orbit Hamiltonian. Likewise, the lowest six quintet states are computed for PmF(2+) as well as the lowest triplet state and the lowest two septet states. These nine states split into 43 terms upon application of the spin-orbit Hamiltonian.
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