Time-dependent density-functional study of intermolecular Coulombic decay for 2a$_1$ ionized water dimer

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Wang, Kedong, Covington, Cody L., Varga, Kalman
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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_version_ 1866909617859067904
author Wang, Kedong
Covington, Cody L.
Varga, Kalman
author_facet Wang, Kedong
Covington, Cody L.
Varga, Kalman
contents A real-space, real-time time-dependent density functional theory (RT-TDDFT) with Ehrenfest dynamics is used to simulate intermolecular Coulombic decay (ICD) processes following the ionization of an inner-valence electron. The approach has the advantage of treating both nuclear and electronic motion simultaneously, allowing for the study of electronic excitation, charge transfer, ionization, and nuclear motion. Using this approach, we investigate the decay process for the 2a$_1$ ionized state of the water dimer. For the 2a$_1$ vacancy in the proton donor water molecule, ICD is observed in our simulations. In addition, we have identified a novel dynamical process: at the initial stage, the proton generally undergoes a back-and-forth motion. Subsequently, the system may evolve along two distinct pathways: in one, no proton transfer occurs; in the other, the proton departs again from its original position and ultimately completes the transfer process. In contrast, when the vacancy resides in the proton acceptor water molecule, no proton transfer occurs, and ICD remains the sole decay channel.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_14794
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Time-dependent density-functional study of intermolecular Coulombic decay for 2a$_1$ ionized water dimer
Wang, Kedong
Covington, Cody L.
Varga, Kalman
Chemical Physics
A real-space, real-time time-dependent density functional theory (RT-TDDFT) with Ehrenfest dynamics is used to simulate intermolecular Coulombic decay (ICD) processes following the ionization of an inner-valence electron. The approach has the advantage of treating both nuclear and electronic motion simultaneously, allowing for the study of electronic excitation, charge transfer, ionization, and nuclear motion. Using this approach, we investigate the decay process for the 2a$_1$ ionized state of the water dimer. For the 2a$_1$ vacancy in the proton donor water molecule, ICD is observed in our simulations. In addition, we have identified a novel dynamical process: at the initial stage, the proton generally undergoes a back-and-forth motion. Subsequently, the system may evolve along two distinct pathways: in one, no proton transfer occurs; in the other, the proton departs again from its original position and ultimately completes the transfer process. In contrast, when the vacancy resides in the proton acceptor water molecule, no proton transfer occurs, and ICD remains the sole decay channel.
title Time-dependent density-functional study of intermolecular Coulombic decay for 2a$_1$ ionized water dimer
topic Chemical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.14794