Raman signal from a hindered hydrogen rotor

Abstract

We present a method for calculation of Raman modes of the quantum solid phase I hydrogen and deuterium. We use the mean-field assumption that the quantized excitations are localized on one molecule. This is done by explicit solution of the time-dependent Schroedinger equation in an angle-dependent potential, and direct calculation of the polarization. We show that in the free rotor limit, the H₂ and D₂ frequencies differ by a factor of 2, which evolves toward √2 as the modes acquire librational character due to stronger interactions. The ratio overshoots √2 if anharmonic terms weaken the harmonic potential. We also use density functional theory and molecular dynamics to calculate the E_(2g) optical phonon frequency and the Raman linewidths. The molecular dynamics shows that the molecules are not free rotors except at very low pressure and high temperature, and become like oscillators as phase II is approached. We fit the interaction strengths to experimental frequencies, but good agreement for intensities requires us to also include strong preferred orientation and stimulated Raman effects between S₀ (1) and S₀ (0) contributions. The experimental Raman spectrum for phase II cannot be reproduced, suggesting that the mean-field assumption is invalid in that case.

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