Etienne Gindensperger

Bio: Etienne Gindensperger is an academic researcher from University of Strasbourg. The author has contributed to research in topics: Quantum dynamics & Excited state. The author has an hindex of 22, co-authored 42 publications receiving 1621 citations. Previous affiliations of Etienne Gindensperger include Centre national de la recherche scientifique & Heidelberg University.

Spin-Vibronic Mechanism for Intersystem Crossing

Abstract: Intersystem crossing (ISC), formally forbidden within nonrelativistic quantum theory, is the mechanism by which a molecule changes its spin state. It plays an important role in the excited state decay dynamics of many molecular systems and not just those containing heavy elements. In the simplest case, ISC is driven by direct spin–orbit coupling between two states of different multiplicities. This coupling is usually assumed to remain unchanged by vibrational motion. It is also often presumed that spin-allowed radiationless transitions, i.e. internal conversion, and the nonadiabatic coupling that drives them, can be considered separately from ISC and spin–orbit coupling owing to the vastly different time scales upon which these processes are assumed to occur. However, these assumptions are too restrictive. Indeed, the strong mixing brought about by the simultaneous presence of nonadiabatic and spin–orbit coupling means that often the spin, electronic, and vibrational dynamics cannot be described independe...

Short-time dynamics through conical intersections in macrosystems.

Abstract: The short-time dynamics through a conical intersection of a macrosystem with a vast number of nuclear degrees of freedom (modes) is investigated. For convenience, the macrosystem is decomposed into a system carrying a few modes and a "bath." By transforming the bath modes to new ones, it is shown that only three effective bath modes contribute to the conical intersection. They govern--together with the system's modes--the short-time dynamics of the macrosystem. The remaining bath modes do not directly couple the electronic states and become relevant at longer times. An extensive numerical example is presented.

Mixing quantum and classical dynamics using Bohmian trajectories

Abstract: A novel time-dependent hybrid quantum/classical propagation scheme based on Bohmian quantum trajectories is presented. The quantum subsystem is described by a wave packet depending on the quantum variables x and, via the total potential energy of the system, parametrically on the classical trajectories X(t). The wave packet is used to calculate de Broglie–Bohm quantum trajectories x(t) which are used to calculate the force acting on the classical variables. Quantum corrections of the classical equation of motion are also included. The method is applied to a simple case of two coupled oscillators. Comparison between exact quantum and approximate results demonstrates that these MQCB (Mixed Quantum/Classical Bohmian) trajectories provide a good description of the energy exchange between the two oscillators.

Spin-Vibronic Quantum Dynamics for Ultrafast Excited-State Processes

Abstract: ConspectusUltrafast intersystem crossing (ISC) processes coupled to nuclear relaxation and solvation dynamics play a central role in the photophysics and photochemistry of a wide range of transition metal complexes. These phenomena occurring within a few hundred femtoseconds are investigated experimentally by ultrafast picosecond and femtosecond transient absorption or luminescence spectroscopies, and optical laser pump–X-ray probe techniques using picosecond and femtosecond X-ray pulses. The interpretation of ultrafast structural changes, time-resolved spectra, quantum yields, and time scales of elementary processes or transient lifetimes needs robust theoretical tools combining state-of-the-art quantum chemistry and developments in quantum dynamics for solving the electronic and nuclear problems. Multimode molecular dynamics beyond the Born–Oppenheimer approximation has been successfully applied to many small polyatomic systems. Its application to large molecules containing a transition metal atom is st...

Stochastic Processes in Physics and Chemistry

Abstract: N G van Kampen 1981 Amsterdam: North-Holland xiv + 419 pp price Dfl 180 This is a book which, at a lower price, could be expected to become an essential part of the library of every physical scientist concerned with problems involving fluctuations and stochastic processes, as well as those who just enjoy a beautifully written book. It provides an extensive graduate-level introduction which is clear, cautious, interesting and readable.

Ab initio calculation of vibrational absorption and circular dichroism spectra using density functional force fields

Abstract: : The unpolarized absorption and circular dichroism spectra of the fundamental vibrational transitions of the chiral molecule, 4-methyl-2-oxetanone, are calculated ab initio. Harmonic force fields are obtained using Density Functional Theory (DFT), MP2, and SCF methodologies and a 5S4P2D/3S2P (TZ2P) basis set. DFT calculations use the Local Spin Density Approximation (LSDA), BLYP, and Becke3LYP (B3LYP) density functionals. Mid-IR spectra predicted using LSDA, BLYP, and B3LYP force fields are of significantly different quality, the B3LYP force field yielding spectra in clearly superior, and overall excellent, agreement with experiment. The MP2 force field yields spectra in slightly worse agreement with experiment than the B3LYP force field. The SCF force field yields spectra in poor agreement with experiment.The basis set dependence of B3LYP force fields is also explored: the 6-31G* and TZ2P basis sets give very similar results while the 3-21G basis set yields spectra in substantially worse agreements with experiment. jg

Molcas 8: New capabilities for multiconfigurational quantum chemical calculations across the periodic table.

Abstract: In this report, we summarize and describe the recent unique updates and additions to the Molcas quantum chemistry program suite as contained in release version 8. These updates include natural and spin orbitals for studies of magnetic properties, local and linear scaling methods for the Douglas-Kroll-Hess transformation, the generalized active space concept in MCSCF methods, a combination of multiconfigurational wave functions with density functional theory in the MC-PDFT method, additional methods for computation of magnetic properties, methods for diabatization, analytical gradients of state average complete active space SCF in association with density fitting, methods for constrained fragment optimization, large-scale parallel multireference configuration interaction including analytic gradients via the interface to the Columbus package, and approximations of the CASPT2 method to be used for computations of large systems. In addition, the report includes the description of a computational machinery for nonlinear optical spectroscopy through an interface to the QM/MM package Cobramm. Further, a module to run molecular dynamics simulations is added, two surface hopping algorithms are included to enable nonadiabatic calculations, and the DQ method for diabatization is added. Finally, we report on the subject of improvements with respects to alternative file options and parallelization.

OpenMolcas : From Source Code to Insight

Abstract: In this Article we describe the OpenMolcas environment and invite the computational chemistry community to collaborate. The open-source project already includes a large number of new developments realized during the transition from the commercial MOLCAS product to the open-source platform. The paper initially describes the technical details of the new software development platform. This is followed by brief presentations of many new methods, implementations, and features of the OpenMolcas program suite. These developments include novel wave function methods such as stochastic complete active space self-consistent field, density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) methods, and hybrid multiconfigurational wave function and density functional theory models. Some of these implementations include an array of additional options and functionalities. The paper proceeds and describes developments related to explorations of potential energy surfaces. Here we present methods for the optimization of conical intersections, the simulation of adiabatic and nonadiabatic molecular dynamics, and interfaces to tools for semiclassical and quantum mechanical nuclear dynamics. Furthermore, the Article describes features unique to simulations of spectroscopic and magnetic phenomena such as the exact semiclassical description of the interaction between light and matter, various X-ray processes, magnetic circular dichroism, and properties. Finally, the paper describes a number of built-in and add-on features to support the OpenMolcas platform with postcalculation analysis and visualization, a multiscale simulation option using frozen-density embedding theory, and new electronic and muonic basis sets.

Room-temperature phosphorescence from organic aggregates

Abstract: Triplet excitons in organic molecules underscore a variety of processes and technologies as a result of their long lifetime and spin multiplicity Organic phosphorescence, which originates from triplet excitons, has potential for the development of a new generation of organic optoelectronic materials and biomedical agents However, organic phosphorescence is typically only observed at cryogenic temperatures and under inert conditions in solution, which severely restricts its practical applications In the past few years, room-temperature-phosphorescent systems have been obtained based on organic aggregates Rapid advances in molecular-structure design and aggregation-behaviour modulation have enabled substantial progress, but the mechanistic picture is still not fully understood because of the high sensitivity and complexity of triplet-exciton behaviour This Review analyses key photophysical processes related to triplet excitons, including intersystem crossing, radiative and non-radiative decay, and quenching processes, to illustrate the intrinsic structure–property relationships and draw clear and integrated design principles The resulting strategies for the development of efficient and persistent room-temperature-phosphorescent systems are discussed, and newly emerged applications based on these materials are highlighted Advances in molecular-structure design and modulation of the aggregation behaviour have enabled much progress in the observation of room-temperature phosphorescence from organic aggregates This Review analyses key photophysical processes related to triplet excitons, illustrating the intrinsic structure–property relationships and identifying strategies to design efficient and persistent room-temperature-phosphorescent systems