Chemical Theory Beyond The Born-oppenheimer Paradigm: Nonadiabatic Electronic And Nuclear Dynamics In Chemical Reactions

This unique volume offers a clear perspective of the relevant methodology relating to the chemical theory of the next generation beyond the Born-Oppenheimer paradigm. It bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology of attosecond laser science and the theory of chemical reactivity. The essence of this book lies in the method of nonadiabatic electron wavepacket dynamic, which will set a new foundation for theoretical chemistry.

In light of the great progress of molecular electronic structure theory (quantum chemistry), the authors show a new direction towards nonadiabatic electron dynamics, in which quantum wavepackets have been theoretically and experimentally revealed to bifurcate into pieces due to the strong kinematic interactions between electrons and nuclei.

The applications range from nonadiabatic chemical reactions in photochemical dynamics to chemistry in densely quasi-degenerated electronic states that largely fluctuate through their mutual nonadiabatic couplings. The latter is termed as “chemistry without the potential energy surfaces” and thereby virtually no theoretical approach has been made yet.

Restarting from such a novel foundation of theoretical chemistry, the authors cast new light even on the traditional chemical notions such as the Pauling resonance theory, proton transfer, singlet biradical reactions, and so on.
Contents:The Aim of This Book: Where are We?Basic Framework of Theoretical ChemistryNuclear Dynamics on Adiabatic Electronic Potential Energy SurfacesBreakdown of the Born–Oppenheimer Approximation: Classic Theories of Nonadiabatic Transitions and Ideas BehindDirect Observation of the Wavepacket Bifurcation Due to Nonadiabatic TransitionsNonadiabatic Electron Wavepacket Dynamics in Path-branching RepresentationDynamical Electron Theory for Chemical ReactionsMolecular Electron Dynamics in Laser Fields
Readership: Graduate students, professional scientists in theoretical chemistry, quantum chemistry, chemical dynamics, nonadiabatic transition, molecular physics, electron dynamics, and experimentalists in laser chemistry (including ultrafast chemical dynamics), photochemistry, laser control of chemical reactions, and scientists working in physical chemistry and chemical physics in general.
Key Features:Presents a new framework of theory for ultrafast chemical reactions based on the nonadiabatic electron wavepacket dynamicsOffers a very powerful yet futuristic methodology to handle the attosecond electron-wavepacket quantum dynamics associated with non-Born-Oppenheimer nuclear pathsDescribes the original and powerful practices to cope with actual molecular systems that have been attained through authors' long-standing studies