Stockholm university

Åsa Larson

About me

I am professor in theoretical molecular physics at the Physics department at Stockholm University.

Teaching

During the academic year 2023/24 I am teaching the courses in Atomic and molecular physics (FK5023) and Advanced Quantum Mechanics (FK5027).

Previously I have also been giving courses in Quantum Mechanics, Molecular Physics, Physics I (preparatory course in physics) and Acoustics and Physics for adiology students. 

Research

I perform computations of molecular processes that have in common that highly excited states are involved. The degrees of freedom of the system are then correlated and the molecular dynamics becomes more complex. It is a challenge to theoretically describe these apparently simple processes involving small molecular systems. To test my theoretical models I collaborate closely with experimental groups such as DESIREE at Stockholm University and CSR (Cryogenic Storage Ring) at the Max Planck Institute for nuclear physics (MPIK) in Heidelberg. Reactions I study include charge-transfer reaction occurring when oppositely charged ions collide (mutual neutralization), dissociative recombination occurring when a molecular ion recombines with an electron or the molecular dynamics occurring upon photon absorption.

Research projects

Publications

A selection from Stockholm University publication database

  • Charge transfer in sodium iodide collisions

    2023. Patrik Hedvall, Michael Odelius, Åsa Larson. Journal of Chemical Physics 158 (1)

    Article

    Sodium iodide (NaI) has, over the years, served as a prototype system in studies of non-adiabatic dynamics. Here, the charge transfer collision reactions Na+ + I− ⇆ Na + I (mutual neutralization and ion-pair formation) are studied using an ab initio approach and the total and differential cross sections are calculated for the reactions. This involves electronic structure calculations on NaI to obtain adiabatic potential energy curves, non-adiabatic and spin–orbit couplings, followed by nuclear dynamics, treated fully quantum mechanically in a strictly diabatic representation. A single avoided crossing at 13.22 a0 dominates the reactions, and the total cross sections are well captured by the semi-classical Landau–Zener model. Compared to the measured ion-pair formation cross section, the calculated cross section is about a factor of two smaller, and the overall shape of the calculated differential cross section is in reasonable agreement with the measured ion-pair formation differential cross section. Treating the Landau–Zener coupling as an empirical parameter of 0.05 eV, the measured total and differential cross sections are well captured when performing fully quantum mechanical cross section calculations including rotational coupling. A semi-empirical spin–orbit coupling model is also investigated, giving satisfactory estimation of the effects of spin–orbit interactions for the reactions. 

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  • Mutual neutralization in H++H collisions: An improved theoretical model

    2022. Johan Hörnquist (et al.). Physical Review A: covering atomic, molecular, and optical physics and quantum information 106 (6)

    Article

    The total and differential cross sections of mutual neutralization in H++H collisions are calculated ab initio and fully quantum mechanically for energies between 0.001 and 600 eV. Effects which have not previously been considered in studies on mutual neutralization (MN) for this system, such as inclusion of rotational couplings and autoionization, are investigated. Adiabatic potential curves corresponding to the relevant states of 1Σ, 1Σ, 1Πg and 1Πu symmetries as well as radial and rotational nonadiabatic couplings are computed ab initio. A quasidiabatic model is developed and applied in order to investigate the importance of higher excited states as well as the inclusion of autoionization. Molecular data for the lowest electronic resonant state in each symmetry are obtained by performing electron scattering calculations. It is shown that rotational couplings cause a significant increase of the total MN cross section while autoionization plays a minor role as a loss mechanism. Additionally, a differential cross section is obtained that is symmetric around θ=90. This result is in disagreement with a previous theoretical calculation where it was found that the differential cross section is dominated by backwards scattering.

    Read more about Mutual neutralization in H++H collisions
  • Pseudo–Jahn-Teller interaction among electronic resonant states of H3

    2021. Patrik Hedvall, Åsa Larson. Physical Review A: covering atomic, molecular, and optical physics and quantum information 103 (3)

    Article

    We study the electronic resonant states of H3 with energies above the potential energy surface of the H3+ ground state. These resonant states are important for the dissociative recombination of H3+ at higher collision energies, and previous studies have indicated that these resonant states exhibit a triple intersection. We introduce a complex generalization of the pseudo–Jahn-Teller model to describe these resonant states. The potential energies and the autoionization widths of the resonant states are computed with electron scattering calculations using the complex Kohn variational method, and the complex model parameters are extracted by a least-square fit to the results. This treatment results in a non-Hermitian pseudo–Jahn-Teller Hamiltonian describing the system. The nonadiabatic coupling and geometric phase are further calculated and used to characterize the enriched topology of the complex adiabatic potential energy surfaces.

    Read more about Pseudo–Jahn-Teller interaction among electronic resonant states of H3
  • Dissociative electron attachment to MgCN

    2020. Ann Orel, Åsa Larson. European Physical Journal D 74 (1)

    Article

    Dissociative electron attachment (DEA) to the molecule MgCN and its isomer MgNC has been proposed as a possible source of CN- in the interstellar media. We have carried out electron scattering calculations using the complex Kohn Variational Method as a function of the internal degrees of freedom of the molecule to obtain the resonance energy surfaces and autoionization widths. We use these data as input to form the Hamiltonian relevant to the nuclear dynamics. The multidimensional time-dependent Schrodinger equation is solved using the MultiConfiguration Time-Dependent Hartree (MCTDH) approach. We compute the DEA cross sections and discuss the implications for CN- formation in circumstellar envelopes.

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  • Spontaneous Electron Emission from Hot Silver Dimer Anions: Breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer Approximation

    2020. Emma K. Anderson (et al.). Physical Review Letters 124 (17)

    Article

    We report the first experimental evidence of spontaneous electron emission from a homonuclear dimer anion through direct measurements of Ag-2(-) -> Ag-2 + e(-) decays on milliseconds and seconds timescales. This observation is very surprising as there is no avoided crossing between adiabatic energy curves to mediate such a process. The process is weak, yet dominates the decay signal after 100 ms when ensembles of internally hot Ag-2(-) ions are stored in the cryogenic ion-beam storage ring, DESIREE, for 10 s. The electron emission process is associated with an instantaneous, very large reduction of the vibrational energy of the dimer system. This represents a dramatic deviation from a Born-Oppenheimer description of dimer dynamics.

    Read more about Spontaneous Electron Emission from Hot Silver Dimer Anions
  • Mutual neutralization in collisions of H+ with Cl-

    2019. Åsa Larson (et al.). Journal of Chemical Physics 151 (21)

    Article

    The cross section and final state distribution for mutual neutralization in collisions of H+ with Cl- have been calculated using an ab initio quantum mechanical approach. It is based on potential energy curves and nonadiabatic coupling elements for the six lowest (1)Sigma(+) states of HCl computed with the multireference configuration interaction method. The reaction is found to be driven by nonadiabatic interactions occurring at relatively small internuclear distances (R < 6 a(0)). Effects on the mutual neutralization cross section with respect to the asymptotic form of the potential energy curves, inclusion of closed channels, as well as isotopic substitution are investigated. The effect of spin-orbit interaction is investigated using a semiempirical model and found to be small. A simple two-state Landau-Zener calculation fails to predict the cross section.

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  • Reactions of C+ + Cl-, Br-, and I--A comparison of theory and experiment

    2019. Jordan C. Sawyer (et al.). Journal of Chemical Physics 151 (24)

    Article

    Rate constants for the reactions of C+ + Cl-, Br-, and I- were measured at 300 K using the variable electron and neutral density electron attachment mass spectrometry technique in a flowing afterglow Langmuir probe apparatus. Upper bounds of <10(-8) cm(3) s(-1) were found for the reaction of C+ with Br- and I-, and a rate constant of 4.2 +/- 1.1 x 10(-9) cm(3) s(-1) was measured for the reaction with Cl-. The C+ + Cl- mutual neutralization reaction was studied theoretically from first principles, and a rate constant of 3.9 x 10(-10) cm(3) s(-1), an order of magnitude smaller than experiment, was obtained with spin-orbit interactions included using a semiempirical model. The discrepancy between the measured and calculated rate constants could be explained by the fact that in the experiment, the total loss of C+ ions was measured, while the theoretical treatment did not include the associative ionization channel. The charge transfer was found to take place at small internuclear distances, and the spin-orbit interaction was found to have a minor effect on the rate constant.

    Read more about Reactions of C+ + Cl-, Br-, and I--A comparison of theory and experiment
  • A theoretical study of mutual neutralization of He++H- collisions

    Åsa Larson, Sifiso Nkambule, Ann Orel.

    Total and differential cross sections for mutual neutralization in low energy (0.001 eV -100 eV) He + and H − collisions are calculated ab initio and fully quantum mechanically. Atomic final state distributions and isotope effects are investigated. The theoretical model includes dynamics on eleven coupled states of 2 Σ + symmetry where autoionization is incorporated. The potential energy curves, autoionization widths and non-adiabatic couplings of electronic resonant states of HeH are computed by combining structure calculations with electron scattering calculations. The nuclear dynamics is studied using a strict diabatic representation of the resonant states. Effects of rotational couplings between 2 Σ + and 2 Π electronic states are investigated in the pure precession approximation.

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  • Dissociative recombination of BeH+

    Johanna Brinne Roos (et al.).

    The cross section for dissociative recombination of BeH+ is calculated by solution of the timedependent Schrödinger equation in the local complex potential approximation. The effects of couplings between resonant states and the Rydberg states converging to the ground state of the ionare studied. The relevant potentials, couplings and autoionization widths are extracted using abinitio electron scattering and structure calculations, followed by a diabatization procedure. Thecalculated cross sections shows a sizable magnitude at low energy, followed by a high-energy peakcentered around 1 eV. The electronic couplings between the neutral states induce oscillations in thecross section. Analytical forms for the cross sections at low collision energies are given.

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  • Low-energy collisions between electrons and BeD+

    2018. S. Niyonzima (et al.). Plasma sources science & technology 27 (2)

    Article

    Multichannel quantum defect theory is applied in the treatment of the dissociative recombination and vibrational excitation processes for the BeD+ ion in the 24 vibrational levels of its ground electronic state (X (1)Sigma(+), v(i)(+) = 0 ... 23). Three electronic symmetries of BeD** states ((2)Pi, (2)Sigma(+), and (2)Delta) are considered in the calculation of cross sections and the corresponding rate coefficients. The incident electron energy range is 10(-5)-2.7 eV and the electron temperature range is 100-5000 K. The vibrational dependence of these collisional processes is highlighted. The resulting data are useful in magnetic confinement fusion edge plasma modeling and spectroscopy, in devices with beryllium based main chamber materials, such as ITER and JET, and operating with the deuterium-tritium fuel mix. An extensive rate coefficients database is presented in graphical form and also by analytic fit functions whose parameters are tabulated in the supplementary material.

    Read more about Low-energy collisions between electrons and BeD+
  • Dissociative recombination of HCl+

    2017. Åsa Larson, Samantha Fonseca dos Santos, Ann E. Orel. Journal of Chemical Physics 147 (8)

    Article

    The dissociative recombination of HCl+, including both the direct and indirect mechanisms, is studied. For the direct process, the relevant electronic states are calculated ab initio by combining electron scattering calculations to obtain resonance positions and autoionization widths with multi-reference configuration interaction calculations of the ion and Rydberg states. The cross section for the direct dissociation along electronic resonant states is computed by solution of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation. For the indirect process, an upper bound value for the cross section is obtained using a vibrational frame transformation of the elements of the scattering matrix at energies just above the ionization threshold. Vibrational excitations of the ionic core from the ground vibrational state, v = 0, to the first three excited vibrational states, v = 1, v = 2, and v = 3, are considered. Autoionization is neglected and the effect of the spin-orbit splitting of the ionic potential energy upon the indirect dissociative recombination cross section is considered. The calculated cross sections are compared to measurements. Published by AIP Publishing.

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  • Low-energy collisions between electrons and BeH+: Cross sections and rate coefficients for all the vibrational states of the ion

    2017. S. Niyonzima (et al.). Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables 115, 287-308

    Article

    We provide cross sections and Maxwell rate coefficients for reactive collisions of slow electrons with BeH+ ions on all the eighteen vibrational levels (X-1 Sigma(+), v(i)(+) = 0, 1, 2, ... , 17) using a Multichannel Quantum Defect Theory (MQDT)-type approach. These data on dissociative recombination, vibrational excitation and vibrational de-excitation are relevant for magnetic confinement fusion edge plasma modeling and spectroscopy, in devices with beryllium based main chamber materials, such as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and the Joint European Torus (JET). Our results are presented in graphical form and as fitted analytical functions, the parameters of which are organized in tables.

    Read more about Low-energy collisions between electrons and BeH+
  • Differential and total cross sections of mutual neutralization in low-energy collisions of isotopes of H+ + H-

    2016. Sifiso M. Nkambule (et al.). Physical Review A: covering atomic, molecular, and optical physics and quantum information 93 (3)

    Article

    Mutual neutralization in the collisions of H+ and H- is studied both theoretically and experimentally. The quantum-mechanical ab initio model includes covalent states associated with the H(1)+H(n <= 3) limits and the collision energy ranges from 1 meV to 100 eV. The reaction is theoretically studied for collisions between different isotopes of the hydrogen ions. From the partial wave scattering amplitude, the differential and total cross sections are computed. The differential cross section is analyzed in terms of forward- and backward-scattering events, showing a dominance of backward scattering which can be understood by examining the phase of the scattering amplitudes for the gerade and ungerade set of states. The isotope dependence of the total cross section is compared with the one obtained using a semiclassical multistate Landau-Zener model. The final state distribution analysis emphasizes the dominance of the n = 3 channel for collisions below 10 eV, while at higher collision energies, the n = 2 channel starts to become important. For collisions of ions forming a molecular system with a larger reduced mass, the n = 2 channel starts to dominate at lower energies. Using a merged ion-beam apparatus, the branching ratios for mutual neutralization in H+ and H- collisions in the energy range from 11 to 185 eV are measured with position- and time-sensitive particle detectors. The measured and calculated branching ratios satisfactorily agree with respect to state contributions.

    Read more about Differential and total cross sections of mutual neutralization in low-energy collisions of isotopes of H+ + H-
  • Dissociative recombination of N2H+

    2016. S. Fonseca dos Santos (et al.). Physical Review A 94 (2)

    Article

    The direct and indirect mechanisms of dissociative recombination of N2H+ are theoretically studied. At low energies, the electron capture is found to be driven by recombination into bound Rydberg states, while at collision energies above 0.1 eV, the direct capture and dissociation along electronic resonant states becomes important. Electron-scattering calculations using the complex Kohn variational method are performed to obtain the scattering matrix as well as energy positions and autoionization widths of resonant states. Potential-energy surfaces of electronic bound states of N2H and N2H+ are computed using structure calculations with the multireference configuration interaction method. The cross section for the indirect mechanism is calculated using a vibrational frame transformation of the elements of the scattering matrix at energies just above the ionization threshold. Here vibrational excitations of the ionic core from v = 0 to v = 1 and v = 2 for all three normal modes are considered and autoionization is neglected. The cross section for the direct dissociation along electronic resonant states is computed with wave-packet calculations using the multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree method, where all three internal degrees of freedom are considered. The calculated cross sections are compared to measurements.

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  • Theoretical study of mutual neutralization in He+ + H- collisions

    2016. Åsa Larson, Sifiso M. Nkambule, Ann E. Orel. Physical Review A 94 (2)

    Article

    Total and differential cross sections for mutual neutralization in He+ and H- collisions at low to intermediate (0.001 eV to 100 eV) are calculated ab initio and fully quantum mechanically. Atomic final-state distributions and isotope effects are investigated. The theoretical model includes dynamics on eleven coupled states of (2)Sigma(+) symmetry, where autoionization is incorporated. The potential-energy curves, autoionization widths, and nonadiabatic couplings of electronic resonant states of HeH are computed by combining structure calculations with electron scattering calculations. The nuclear dynamics is studied using a strict diabatic representation of the resonant states. Effects of rotational couplings between (2)Sigma(+) and (2)Pi electronic states are investigated in the pure precession approximation.

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  • Advances in the MQDT approach of electron/molecular cation reactive collisions: High precision extensive calculations for applications

    2015. O. Motapon (et al.). DR2013

    Conference

    Recent advances in the stepwise multichannel quantum defect theory approach of electron/molecular cation reactive collisions have been applied to perform computations of cross sections and rate coefficients for dissociative recombination and electron-impact rovibrational transitions of H-2(+), BeH+ and their deuterated isotopomers. At very low energy, rovibronic interactions play a significant role in the dynamics, whereas at high energy, the dissociative excitation strongly competes with all other reactive processes.

    Read more about Advances in the MQDT approach of electron/molecular cation reactive collisions
  • Electronic and photonic reactive collisions in edge fusion plasma and interstellar space: application to H-2 and BeH systems

    2015. J. Zs Mezei (et al.). Light element atom, molecule and radical behaviour in the divertor and edge plasma regions

    Conference

    Reactive collisional and radiative elementary processes rate coefficients have been either computed using multichannel-quantum-defect theory methods, or measured in merged-beam (storage ring) and crossed-beam experiments. The reaction mechanisms are explained and output data are displayed in ready-to-be-used form, appropriate for the modeling of the kinetics of the edge fusion plasma and of the interstellar molecular clouds.

    Read more about Electronic and photonic reactive collisions in edge fusion plasma and interstellar space
  • Low-energy dissociative electron attachment to CF2

    2015. S. T. Chourou, Åsa Larson, A. E. Orel. Physical Review A. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics 92 (2)

    Article

    We present the results of a theoretical study of dissociative electron attachment (DEA) of low-energy electrons to CF2. We carried out electron scattering calculations using the complex Kohn variational method at the static-exchange and relaxed self-consistent field (SCF) level at the equilibrium geometry and compare our differential cross sections to other results. We then repeated these calculations as a function of the three internal degrees of freedom to obtain the resonance energy surfaces and autoionization widths. We use this data as input to form the Hamiltonian relevant to the nuclear dynamics. The multidimensional wave equation is solved using the multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree (MCTDH) approach within the local approximation.

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  • Mutual neutralization in collisions of Li+ and F-

    2015. Sifiso M. Nkambule, Pietro Nurzia, Åsa Larson. Chemical Physics 462, 23-27

    Article

    Mutual neutralization in collisions of Li+ and F is driven by an avoided crossing between the two lowest (1)Sigma(+) electronic states of the LiF system. These electronic states are computed using the multi-reference configuration interaction method. We investigate how the adiabatic potential energy curves and the non-adiabatic coupling element depend on the choice of the reference configurations as well as the basis set. Using diabatic states, the total and differential cross sections for mutual neutralization are computed.

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  • Potential-splitting approach applied to the Temkin-Poet model for electron scattering off the hydrogen atom and the helium ion

    2015. E. Yarevsky (et al.). Journal of Physics B 48 (11)

    Article

    The study of scattering processes in few body systems is a difficult problem especially if long range interactions are involved. In order to solve such problems, we develop here a potential-splitting approach for three-body systems. This approach is based on splitting the reaction potential into a finite range core part and a long range tail part. The solution to the Schrodinger equation for the long range tail Hamiltonian is found analytically, and used as an incoming wave in the three body scattering problem. This reformulation of the scattering problem makes it suitable for treatment by the exterior complex scaling technique in the sense that the problem after the complex dilation is reduced to a boundary value problem with zero boundary conditions. We illustrate the method with calculations on the electron scattering off the hydrogen atom and the positive helium ion in the frame of the Temkin-Poet model.

    Read more about Potential-splitting approach applied to the Temkin-Poet model for electron scattering off the hydrogen atom and the helium ion
  • Reactive collisions involving the BeH molecular system

    2015. Åsa Larson (et al.). Light element atom, molecule and radical behaviour in the divertor and edge plasma regions

    Conference

    In the divertor and fusion edge plasma regions reactive collisions involving the BeH molecular system are taking place. Theoretical ab initio quantum studies of electron collisions with BeH+ resulting in either dissociative recombination, vibrational excitation or dissociative excitation are performed for ions in different vibrational states as well for different isotopologues. Furthermore, the mutual neutralization reaction in collisions of H- with Be+ is studied semiclassically.

    Read more about Reactive collisions involving the BeH molecular system
  • Studies of HeH: DR, RIP, VE, DE, PI, MN, ...

    2015. Åsa Larson (et al.). EPJ Web of Conferences 84

    Article

    The resonant states of HeH are computed by combining structure calculations at a full configuration interaction level with electron scattering calculations carried out using the Complex-Kohn variational method. We obtain the potential energy curves, autoionization widths, as well as non-adiabatic couplings among the resonant states. Using the non-adiabatic couplings, the adiabatic to diabatic transformation matrix can be obtained. A strict diabatization of the resonant states will be used to study various scattering processes where the resonant states are involved. These processes involve high energy dissociative recombination (DR) and ion-pair formation (RIP), resonant and direct dissociative excitation (DE), penning ionization (PI) as well as mutual neutralization (MN).

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  • Theoretical study of the mechanism of H2O+ dissociative recombination

    2015. Sifiso M. Nkambule (et al.). Physical Review A. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics 92 (1)

    Article

    By combining electronic structure and scattering calculations, quasidiabatic potential energy surfaces of both bound Rydberg and electronic resonant states of the water molecule are calculated at the multireference configuration-interaction level. The scattering matrix calculated at low collision energy is used to obtain explicitly all couplings elements responsible for the electronic capture to bound Rydberg states. These are used to estimate the cross section arising from the indirect mechanism of dissociative recombination. Additionally, the role of the direct capture and dissociation through the resonant states is explored using wave-packet propagation along one-dimensional slices of the multidimensional potential energy surfaces.

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