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dr hab. Jan Franz
Employment
- Associate professor at Institute of Physics and Applied Computer Science
Publications
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total: 40
Catalog Publications
Year 2024
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BASECOL2023 scientific content
PublicationContext. The global context of making numerous data produced by researchers available requires collecting and organising the data, assigning meaningful metadata, and presenting the data in a meaningful and homogeneous way. The BASECOL database, which collects inelastic rate coefficients for application to the interstellar medium and to circumstellar and cometary atmospheres, meets those requirements. Aims. We aim to present the...
Year 2023
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A Monte Carlo Strategy to simulate Positrons and Positronium in biological Materials
PublicationWe present an algorithm for Monte Carlo simulations of positron tracks in biological materials. The algorithm takes into account the cross-section data for elastic and inelastic collisions between positrons and molecules and processes like direct annihilation, ionization and positronium formation. In the case of positronium formation, the algorithm considers the interactions of positronium with molecules. The algorithm can be used...
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The Role of Molecular Structure in Monte Carlo Simulations of the Secondary Electron Yield and Backscattering Coefficient from Methacrylic Acid
PublicationIn this paper, we show the influence of the chemical structure of four different conformers on the secondary electron emission and backscattering of an electron beam from a gel of methacrylic acid. The conformers have different permanent dipole moments, which determines the cross sections for elastic collisions with electrons. The cross sections are used in Monte Carlo simulations of an electron beam, which enters the gel of methacrylic...
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Vibrational Quenching of Optically Pumped Carbon Dimer Anions
PublicationCareful control of quantum states is a gateway to research in many areas of science such as quantum information, quantum-controlled chemistry, and astrophysical processes. Precise optical control of molecular ions remains a challenge due to the scarcity of suitable level schemes, and direct laser cooling has not yet been achieved for either positive or negative molecular ions. Using a cryogenic wire trap, we show how the internal...
Year 2021
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Beyond the helium buffer: 12C−2 rotational cooling in cold traps with H2 as a partner gas: interaction forces and quantum dynamics
Publicationabstract = { The scattering cross-sections and corresponding rate coefficients for rotationally inelastic collisions of $^{12}$C$_2$^-$ ($^2 \Sigma_g^+$) with H$_2$ ($^1 \Sigma_g^+$) are presented over a broad range of cold-trap temperatures. They have been calculated using quantum scattering theory that employs a new ab initio potential energy surface. The rate coefficients for the inelastic processes in the anionic partner are...
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Binary-Encounter Model for Direct Ionization of Molecules by Positron-Impact
PublicationWe introduce two models for the computation of direct ionization cross sections by positron impact over a wide range of collision energies. The models are based on the binary-encounter-Bethe model and take into account an extension of the Wannier theory. The cross sections computed with these models show good agreement with experimental data. The extensions improve the agreement between theory and experiment for collision energies...
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Spontaneous electron emission vs dissociation in internally hot silver dimer anions
PublicationReferring to a recent experiment, we theoretically study the process of a two-channel decay of the diatomic silver anion (Ag2-), namely the spontaneous electron ejection giving Ag2 + e- and the dissociation leading to Ag- + Ag. The ground state potential energy curves of the silver molecules of diatomic neutral and negative ion were calculated using proper pseudo-potentials and atomic basis sets. We also estimated the non-adiabatic...
Year 2020
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Investigation of rotational state-changing collisions of C2N− ions with helium
PublicationThe cross sections for rotational inelastic collisions between atoms and a molecular anion can be very large, if the anion has a dipole moment. This makes molecular anions very efficient in cooling atomic gases. We address rotational inelastic collisions of Helium atoms with the molecular anion C2N–. Here we present preliminary calculations of the potential energy surface.
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Positron Scattering and Annihilation in Organic Molecules
PublicationIn this paper, we address the problem of connecting positron lifetimes in liquids with collision cross sections in gases. We present the analyses of annihilation lifetime spectra of positrons in the liquid benzene, c-hexane, n-hexane, methanol and ethanol and calculations of scattering cross sections of positrons with benzene and c-hexane in the gas phase.
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Rotational state-changing collisions of C2H− and C2N− anions with He under interstellar and cold ion trap conditions: A computational comparison
PublicationWe present an extensive range of quantum calculations for the state-changing rotational dynamics involving two simple molecular anions that are expected to play some role in the evolutionary analysis of chemical networks in the interstellar environments, C2H− (X1Σ+) and C2N− (X3Σ−), but for which inelastic rates are only known for C2H−. The same systems are also of direct interest in modeling selective photo-detachment experiments...
Year 2019
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Low-energy positron scattering from gas-phase benzene
PublicationIn this paper we are presenting calculations of the elastic cross section of positrons with gas-phase benzene for the energy range from 0.25 eV to 9.0 eV. The calculations are done with the molecular R-matrix method for positron-scattering from poly-atomic molecules using a scaling factor to scale the electron-positron interaction. The scaling factor influences the position of the poles of the R-matrix. We adjust the scaling factor...
Year 2017
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Positron-electron correlation-polarization potentials for the calculation of positron collisions with atoms and molecules
PublicationWe present correlation-polarization potentials for the calculation of scattering cross sections of positrons with atoms and molecules. The potentials are constructed from a short-range correlation term and a long-range polarization term. For the short-range correlation term we present four different potentials that are derived from multi-component density functionals. For the long-range polarization term we employ a multi-term...
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The POCOBIO Database for Computed Scattering Cross-Sections for Positron Collisions with Biomolecular Systems
PublicationThe design of a database for positron interactions with biomolecular systems is outlined. The database contains only scattering cross sections, which are derived from theory. The data model is defined in a very flexible way, which facilitates the usage of weakly bound clusters of molecules and molecular systems with many tautomeric forms.
Year 2016
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Do positrons measure atomic and molecular diameters?
PublicationWe report on density functional calculations (DFT) of elastic integral scattering cross-sections for positron collisions with argon, krypton, nitrogen and methane. The long-range asymptotic polarization potential is described using higher-order terms going much beyond an induced dipole potential (−α / r 4) while the short-range interaction is modeled by two different forms of electron – positron correlation potential (Boroński-Nieminen...
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Interactions of positrons with atoms and molecules
PublicationThe positron is the antiparticle of the electron. It has the same mass as the electron, but opposite charge. The understanding of the interactions of positrons with normal matter, like atoms and molecules, is of interest in various scientific fields, like nuclear medicine, plasma physics and astronomy. In this talk we will give a short introduction to some theoretical methods to describe the interactions of positrons with atoms...
Year 2015
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A dipole-driven path for electron and positron attachments to gas-phase uracil and pyrimidine molecules: a quantum scattering analysis
PublicationElectron and positron scattering processes in the gas-phase are analysed for uracil and pyrimidine molecules using a multichannel quantum approach at energies close to threshold. The special effects on the scattering dynamics induced by the large dipole moments in both molecules on the spatial features of the continuum leptonic wavefunctions are here linked to the possible bound states of the Rydberg-like molecular anions or ‘positroned’...
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Dipole-driven dynamics for near-threshold electron/positron interactions with pyrimidinic DNA bases: a path to compound formations
PublicationCalculations are reported for electron and positron scattering from isolated cytosine and thymine, where the two pyrimidinic single-ring DNA bases, in the gas-phase at energies near the elastic threshold, they reveal the special features of the dipole-driven scattering states. All molecules examined exhibit, in fact, supercritical (>1.67 D) permanent dipoles which can therefore also support, below threshold, excited bound compound...
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Positron scattering on molecular hydrogen: Analysis of experimental and theoretical uncertainties
PublicationExperiments performed in recent years on positron scattering from molecular hydrogen indicated a rise of the total cross section in the limit of zero energy, but essentially disagree on the amplitude of this rise. Mitroy and collaborators [J.-Y. Zhang et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 223202 (2009)] predicted a scattering length somewhat different from values deduced experimentally. Using a Markov chain Monte Carlo modified effective...
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Solution of coupled integral equations for quantum scattering in the presence of complex potentials
PublicationIn this paper, we present a method to compute solutions of coupled integral equations for quantum scattering problems in the presence of a complex potential. We show how the elastic and absorption cross sections can be obtained from the numerical solution of these equations in the asymptotic region at large radial distances.
Year 2014
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Low-energy positron scattering from DNA nucleobases: the effects from permanent dipoles
PublicationAb initio quantum calculations for low-energy positron scattering from gas-phase isolated molecular nucleobases which are part of the DNA structure are presented and discussed over the range of 1 eV to 25 eV. The calculations report the integral cross sections (ICSs) and the momentum-transfer cross sections (MTCSs) for Adenine, Guanine, Thymine and Cytosine. The calculations show very clearly the important role of the dominant...
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Low-energy positron scattering from gas-phase uracil
PublicationQuantum scattering calculations are presented for the interaction of low energy positrons with the uracil molecule, an important component of biological systems. The rotational elastic and inelastic cross sections and vibrational inelastic cross sections are reported and compared with existing experiments, indicating a general trend of the cross sections different from the experimental findings and in line with what should be expected...
Year 2013
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Low-energy positron scattering from gas-phase pyrimidine: A quantum treatment of the dynamics and a comparison with experiments
PublicationWe are reporting detailed quantum scattering calculations that describe the diffusion of a beam of low-energy positrons interacting with the pyrimidine target as a gas-phase partner. The calculations have employed an essentially ab initio model for the short-range correlation interaction and for the electrostatic interaction of an impinging positron and the electron+nuclear structure of the target molecule at its equilibrium geometry.
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Low-energy positron scattering from gas-phase tetrahydrofuran: A quantum treatment of the dynamics and a comparison with experiments
PublicationIn this paper we report new quantum calculations of the dynamics for low-energy positrons interacting with gaseous molecules of tetrahydrofuran. The new quantum scattering cross sections are differential and integral cross sections at collision energies between 1.0 and 25.0 eV and include a careful treatment of the additional effects on the scattering process brought about by the permanent dipole moment of the target molecule....
Year 2012
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Refined theoretical study of radiative association: Cross sections and rate constants for the formation of SiN
PublicationRadiative association of silicon mononitride (SiN) in its two lowest molecular electronic states is studied through quantum and classical dynamics. Special attention is paid to the behavior of the cross section at high collision energies. A modified expression for the semiclassical cross section is presented which excludes transitions to continuum states. This gives improved agreement with quantum mechanical perturbation theory...
Year 2011
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Formation of carbon monoxide by radiative association: a quantum dynamical study
PublicationRate coefficients for the formation of carbon monoxide (CO) by radiative association of carbon and oxygen atoms are computed using quantum dynamical simulations. At temperatures above 10 K CO radiative association is dominated by C(3P) and O(3P) approaching on the A1Π potential energy curve. The rate coefficient is estimated as k=A(T/300 K)αexp−β/T with A= 1.39 × 10−18 cm3 s−1, α=−0.016 and β= 92.2 for temperatures between 6 and...
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Positron collisions with molecular hydrogen: cross sections and annihilation parameters calculated using theR-matrix with pseudo-states method
PublicationThe molecular R-matrix with pseudo-states (MRMPS) method is employed to study positron collisions with H2. The calculations employ pseudo-continuum orbital sets containing up to h (l = 5) functions. Use of these high l functions is found to give converged eigenphase sums. Below the positronium formation threshold, the calculated cross sections agree with other high-accuracy theories and generally with the measurements. Calculation...
Year 2009
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Computed vibrational excitation ofCF4by low-energy electrons and positrons: Comparing calculations and experiments
PublicationQuantum calculations for the excitation of the asymmetric modes of the CF4 target gas, ν3 and ν4, by impact of low-energy electrons and positrons are carried out in the energy range around 1 eV and are compared with recent experimental findings. The similarities and differences between the two types of projectiles, and the two different modes, are analyzed and discussed vis à vis the present accord with the experimental results.
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Production of singlet oxygen atoms by photodissociation of oxywater
PublicationQuantum chemical calculations are reported for the energies of the few lowest electronic singlet states of oxywater along dissociation of the oxygen-oxygen bond into water and singlet oxygen using multistate multireference second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory. We compute an energy of 21 kcal/mol to remove one oxygen atom in the lowest singlet state. The two lowest excited singlet states have vertical excitation energies...
Year 2008
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Correlation–polarization effects in electron/positron scattering from acetylene: A comparison of computational models
PublicationDifferent computational methods are employed to evaluate elastic (rotationally summed) integral and differential cross sections for low energy (below about 10 eV) positron scattering off gas-phase C2H2 molecules. The computations are carried out at the static and static-plus-polarization levels for describing the interaction forces and the correlation–polarization contributions are found to be an essential component for the correct...
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Excited-state proton transfer and geminate recombination in the molecular cage of β-cyclodextrin
PublicationExcited-state proton transfer and geminate recombination in aqueous heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin have been compared with those in water by monitoring the photoinduced prototropic tautomerization of 6-hydroxyquinoline, which occurs via forming anionic intermediate. Enol deprotonation decelerates by 18 times whereas its reverse process accelerates slightly with encapsulation. The imine protonation of the intermediate...
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Polarisation effects in low-energy positron–molecule scattering
PublicationThe UK molecular R-matrix method has been adapted to treat positron collisions from polyatomic targets. A simple empirical enhancement factor which corrects for the underestimation of electron–positron polarisation and correlation effects in the calculations performed with the static-plus-polarization model at low scattering energies is presented. Application of this model to positron scattering from carbon dioxide at energies...
Year 2007
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Jahn-Teller and related conical intersections in the benzene radical cation and the monofluoro derivate
PublicationThe multi-state multi-mode vibronic interactions in the benzene radical cation and its monofluoro derivative have been investigated theoretically, based on high-level electronic structure calculations for the system parameters and a quantum treatment of the nuclear motion. The available experimental data are well reproduced. The interplay of different vibronic coupling mechanisms is pointed out leading to multiple nonadiabatic...
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Low-energy positron collisions with water: elastic and rotationally inelastic scattering
PublicationDifferential, integral and momentum transfer cross sections for the vibrationally elastic and rotationally inelastic scattering of positrons from water at low collision energy (E ≤ 10 eV) are reported. Several models within the R-matrix method are used to compute the body-fixed T-matrices, while the scattering calculations are performed within the fixed-nuclei approximation corrected with the standard Born-closure formula. These...
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Multi-state vibronic interactions in the fluorobenzene radical cation: The importance of quadratic coupling terms
PublicationThe multi-mode multi-state vibronic interactions in the set of X^2B_1 - D^2A_1 electronic states of the monofluoro benzene radical cation are investigated theoretically, based on a quadratic vibronic coupling approach. The underlying ionization potentials and coupling constants are obtained from ab initio coupled-cluster calculations. Previous investigations (relying on the linear coupling approach) are extended by including all...
Year 2006
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Annihilation rates of low-energy positron scattering from simple diatomic molecules
PublicationWe discuss the calculations of Zeff coefficients for a series of diatomic molecules over the range of energies below the positronium formation. During the development of a general code for polyatomic, nonlinear molecules colliding with positrons, it was discovered that the earlier one, employed only for diatomic molecules, had an error. The error is corrected and the corrected results are presented here. We also discuss a way of...
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Multi-mode vibronic interactions in the five lowest electronic states of the fluorobenzene radical cation
PublicationThe multi-mode vibronic interactions between the five lowest electronic states of the fluorobenzene radical cation are investigated theoretically, based on ab initio electronic structure data, and employing the linear vibronic coupling model. Low-energy conical intersections, and strong vibronic couplings are found to prevail within the set of X-A and B-C-D cationic states, while the interactions between these two sets of states...
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Multi-state multi-reference Møller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory for molecular calculations
PublicationThis work presents multi‐state multi‐reference Møller–Plesset second‐order perturbation theory as a variant of multi‐reference perturbation theory to treat electron correlation in molecules. An effective Hamiltonian is constructed from the first‐order wave operator to treat several strongly interacting electronic states simultaneously. The wave operator is obtained by solving the generalized Bloch equation within the first‐order...
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Positron binding to alkali-metal hydrides: The role of molecular vibrations
PublicationThe bound vibrational levels for J=0 have been computed for the series of alkali-metal hydride molecules from LiH to RbH, including NaH and KH. For all four molecules the corresponding potential-energy curves have been obtained for each isolated species and for its positron-bound complex (e+XH). It is found that the calculated positron affinity values strongly depend on the molecular vibrational state for which they are obtained...
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Vibrational excitation of acetylene by positron impact
PublicationVibrationally inelastic quantum calculations are carried out at low collision energies for the scattering of a beam of positrons off acetylene gaseous molecules. The normal mode analysis is assumed to be valid and the relative fluxes into the C–C and C–H symmetric vibrational modes are computed within a Body-Fixed (BF) formulation of the dynamics by solving the relevant vibrational Coupled Channels (VCC) equations. The clear dominance...
Year 2005
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Ab Initio Study of the Electronic Spectrum of 7-Hydroxyquinoline
PublicationThe electronic spectrum of 7-hydroxyquinoline has been studied by using ab initio Multi-State Multi-Reference Møller-Plesset Second-Order Perturbation Theory (MSMRMP2). The energy range up to 6.5 eV is taken into consideration. The lowest π–π* transition is calculated to have an energy of 3.65 eV in good agreement with experimental data. Several other π–π* transitions are predicted to have excitation energies of 4.93, 5.20, 5.47,...
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