PSEUDOSPECTRAL CALCULATION OF NEAR-DISSOCIATIVE LOCAL MODE STATES FOR THE BIFLUORIDE ANION HF2-

Using a recently reported global potential energy surface, we calculate all vibrational levels of the HF2- anion up to the dissociation threshold. The equilibrium geometry of the bifluoride anion is linear with the H atom between the F atoms. The vibrational wave functions are symmetric or antisymmetric with respect to reflection in a plane bisecting the F-F axis. We focus on nearly degenerate pairs of symmetric and antisymmetric levels lying close to the dissociation energy. Sums and differences of these levels are local mode states for which the H atom is localized on one of the F atoms: These near-dissociative local mode states, which can exist above the threshold for dissociation into F- and HF or FH and F- fragments, have been proposed as candidates for spectroscopic experiments which probe the dynamics and structure of the transition state in the unimolecular dissociation of polyatomic molecules. Energies of the low-lying vibrational levels, as well as those around the dissociation energy, are presented. Wave functions of highly vibrationally excited states, lying slightly below and slightly above the dissociation threshold, are analyzed graphically. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.