We have developed the polyatomic extension of the established [M. Gustafsson, J. Chem. Phys. 138, 074308 (2013)] classical theory of radiative association in the absence of electronic transitions. The cross section and the emission spectrum of the process is calculated by a quasiclassical trajectory method combined with the classical Larmor formula which can provide the radiated power in collisions. We have also proposed a Monte Carlo scheme for efficient computation of ro-vibrationally quantum state resolved cross sections for radiative association. Besides the method development, the global potential energy and dipole surfaces for H + CN collisions have been calculated and fitted to test our polyatomic semiclassical method.

With the reformulation of the classical equations of collision-induced absorption, we present a method to perform the direct computation of the spectral density function. This way the absorption coefficient can be computed from classical molecular dynamics (MD) without the computationally demanding evaluation of the dipole autocorrelation function. In addition, we have developed an algorithm to extract the bound-to-bound dimer contribution to the MD simulated absorption. The method has been tested on the Ar–Xe rare gas system. Comparisons with quantum mechanical (QM) and conventional MD methods validate the approach. The obtained MD bound-to-bound spectra generally agree in shape and magnitude with QM results, including features stemming from rotations and vibrations of the Ar–Xe dimer.

Cross sections and rate coefficients for the formation of BeH⁺ and BeD⁺ molecules in Be⁺ + H/D collisions through radiative association are calculated using quantum mechanical perturbation theory and Breit-Wigner theory. The local thermodynamic equilibrium limit of the molecule formation is also studied, since the process is also relevant in environments with high-density and/or strong radiation fields. The obtained rate coefficients may facilitate the kinetic modelling of BeH⁺/BeD⁺ production in astrochemical environments as well as the corrosion chemistry of thermonuclear fusion reactors.

We continue the development of the in-house molecular dynamics software package SpaCIAL and test it for the computation of the collision-induced absorption coefficients for a neon (Ne) and krypton (Kr) gas mixture. An apodization procedure for the dipole autocorrelation function is implemented and tested. We also carry out a statistical study of the convergence rate with respect to ensemble size. The resulting absorption coefficients show a good accordance with quantum mechanical results. Comparison with laboratory measurements shows agreement within 10%–20% at T = 295 K. At T = 480 K, a larger difference of 40%–80% is observed, which can presumably be explained by experimental uncertainties. For the study, an empirical (Barker, Fisher, and Watts) interaction-potential [Mol. Phys. 21, 657 (1971)] for Ne–Kr has been developed. Ab initio {coupled cluster with singles and doubles (triples) [CCSD(T)]} potentials for Ne–Ne, Kr–Kr, and Ne–Kr have been computed, as well as the CCSD(T) interaction-induced Ne–Kr dipole moment curve.

We have implemented a scheme for classical molecular dynamics simulations of collision-induced absorption. The program has been applied to a gas mixture of argon (Ar) and krypton (Kr). The simulations are compared with accurate quantum dynamical calculations. The comparisons of the absorption coefficients show that classical molecular dynamics is correct within 10% for photon wave numbers up to 220 cm−1 at a temperature of 200 K for this system. At higher temperatures, the agreement is even better. Molecular dynamics accounts for many-body interactions, which, for example, give rise to continuous dimer formation and destruction in the gas. In this way, the method has an advantage compared with bimolecular classical (trajectory) treatments. The calculations are carried out with a new empirical Ar–Kr pair potential. This has been obtained through extensive analysis of experimental thermophysical and transport properties. We also present a new high level ab initio Ar–Kr potential curve for comparison, as well as ab initio interaction-induced dipole curves computed with different methods. In addition, the Ar–Kr polarizability and hyperpolarizability are reported. A comparison of the computed absorption spectra with an experiment taken at 300 K shows satisfactory agreement although a difference in absolute magnitude of 10%–15% persists. This discrepancy we attribute mainly to experimental uncertainty.

The rate coefficients and the cross-sections for the formation of imidogen (NH) molecule (and its isotopologues: 15NH and ND) through radiative association are determined by employing quantum mechanical perturbation theory, classical Larmor formula, and Breit–Wigner theory. We suggest the radiative association process as possible route for NH production in diffuse interstellar clouds.

Reactions of HBr with radicals are involved in atmospheric chemistry and in the mechanism of operation of bromine-containing flame retardants. The rate coefficients for two such reactions, HBr + OH and HBr + CH₃, are available from earlier experiments at near or below room temperature, relevant for atmospheric chemistry, and in this domain, the activation energy for both has been found to be negative. However, no experimental data are available at combustion temperatures. In this work, to provide reliable data needed for modeling the action of brominated flame suppressants, we used the quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) method in combination with high-level ab initio potential energy surfaces to evaluate the rate coefficients of the two title reactions at combustion temperatures. The QCT calculations have been validated by reproducing the experimental rate coefficients at room temperature. At temperatures between 600 and 3200 K, the QCT rate coefficients display positive activation energies. We recommend the following extended Arrhenius expressions to describe the temperature dependence of the thermal rate coefficients: k₆ = (9.86 ± 2.38) × 10^–16T^(1.23±0.03) exp[(5.93 ± 0.33) kJ mol^–1/RT] cm³ molecule^–1 s^–1 for the HBr + OH → H₂O + Br reaction, and k_–2 = (4.06 ± 2.72) × 10^–18T^(1.83±0.08) exp[(7.53 ± 0.18) kJ mol^–1/RT] cm³ molecule^–1 s^–1 for the HBr + CH₃ → CH₄ + Br reaction. The latter is in very good agreement with the formula proposed by Burgess et al. [Burgess, D. R., Jr.; Babushok, V. I.; Linteris, G. T.; Manion, J. A. A Chemical Kinetic Mechanism for 2-Bromo-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (2-BTP) Flame Inhibition. Int. J. Chem. Kinet. 2015, 47, 533−619, DOI: 10.1002/kin.20923]. The conventional transition state theory has been tested against the rate data obtained by the QCT method and was found to overestimate not only the rate coefficients but also the activation energies