This thesis aims at validating a theoretical protocol to develop global potential energy surfaces for use in the spectroscopy and dynamics of transition metal nitrosyl complexes. To get an insight into the homogeneous catalysis of NO with Cu and the chemical reaction dynamics, an accurate prediction of the nature of the interaction, as well as of the global potential energy surfaces (PES) is necessary in the gas phase. Experimental data are difficult to obtain, hence the importance of carrying out calculations of the lowest electronic states as accurate as possible to address the structure , spectroscopy and dynamics of this system. All ab initio calulations we report here were performed at the multi-reference configuration interaction (MRCI) and at the coupled cluster level of theory. We aslo investigate the importance of relativistic effects in the systems. For CuNO system, it is shown that a complete active space involving 18 valence electrons, 11 molecular orbitals and the prior determination of 12 roots in the MCSCF calculation is needed for overall qualitatively correct results from the MRCI calculations. The present calculations yield a bound singlet A' ground state for CuNO and comparared with previous results. We have obtained new, complete potential energy functions of the ground electronic states of CuO and CuN systems. Comparison of the term values for the lowest electronic states of CuO and CuN with those previously reported in the literature shows a quite good agreement. We derived a novel analytical representation of the adiabatic potential energy surface in the ground electronic state of the CuNO system as a sum of two-body and three-body terms. This compact and flexible representation enables us to make a physically correct interpolation of the ab initio data points at the MRCI level of theory. We use a modified Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm for fitting the potential, which has 19 adjustable parameters and which now enables us to do scattering dynamics of the CuNO system. We perform full dimensional quantum dynamical studies with this new potential. Convergence of the time dependent wavepacket calculation has been achieved. We find that the scattering in CuNO is highly inelastic. Intermediate, excited meta stable reaction products CuNO∗ live for about 0.5 to 1 ps and maybe more.

Dans cette thèse, nous avons optimisé avec succès tous les paramètres pour calculer l'état fondamental du systéme neutre [N,O, Cu]. L'étude de réactions impliquant NO et des métaux de transition est particulièrement intéressante pour le développement de catalyses efficaces pour la réduction de NO, en vue de sonder la possibilité d'une catalyse homogène impliquant les fragments Cu et NO; une prévision précise de la nature de l'interaction entre ces deux fragments est nécessaire en phase gaz. Il a été montré que les calculs MCSCF incluant 12 racines sont nécessaires pour avoir une convergence propre mais donnent des états inversés, l'asymptote. Pour décrire proprement l'état fondamental, nous utilisons les calculs MRCI sur 6 états par espèce de symétrie simultanément. Aussi nous montrons par calculs MRCI, que l'espace actif peut contenir tous les électrons 3d de Cu pour décrire précisément le système. Ici nous utilisons un CAS (22, 13) qui est proche de l'espace de valence complète du système. Nous avons développé une SEP analytique globale qui peut être utilisée pour modéliser les données ab initio obtenues. L'état lié est un état 1 A’ avec une énergie de rCu = 2.382 pm, rNO = 1.134 pm et tCu = 133.495. Nous avons également effectué des calculs précis sur l'état électronique fondamental et sur les états électroniques excités des diatomiques CuO et CuN et obtenu l'énergie de dissociation qui a ensuite été utilisée comme paramètre d'ajustement dans la représentation analytique. Les fondamentaux vibrationnels calculés se comparent bien avec les données expérimentales disponibles. Le potentiel analytique a été utilisé avec succès avec les meilleurs paramètres ajustés pour effectuer des calculs de dynamique quantique sur le complexe, dont les résultats indiquent une diffusion réactive avec un transfert de l'énergie translatoire vers l'énergie vibrationnelle dans le domaine de temps de la femtoseconde. Des résultats plus avancés non-inclus dans ce résumé impliquent des calculs CCSD(T), incluant des corrections relativistes, et une fusion originale entre les données MRCI et CCSD(T) et modélisées avec la SEP analytique, dont les résultats donnent un puit de potentiel plus profond et réduisent la distance de liaison rCu (distance Cu-NO). Nous avons aussi effectué des études de dynamique quantique avec un facteur d'impact variant (J > 0) et une diffusion des énergies de collision, toutes deux dans une approche soit isotrope, soit directionnelle du paquet d'onde initial. / This thesis aims at validating a theoretical protocol to develop global potential energy surfaces for use in the spectroscopy and dynamics of transition metal nitrosyl complexes. To get an insight into the homogeneous catalysis of NO with Cu and the chemical reaction dynamics, an accurate prediction of the nature of the interaction, as well as of the global potential energy surfaces (PES) is necessary in the gas phase. Experimental data are difficult to obtain, hence the importance of carrying out calculations of the lowest electronic states as accurate as possible to address the structure , spectroscopy and dynamics of this system. All ab initio calulations we report here were performed at the multi-reference configuration interaction (MRCI) and at the coupled cluster level of theory. We aslo investigate the importance of relativistic effects in the systems. For CuNO system, it is shown that a complete active space involving 18 valence electrons, 11 molecular orbitals and the prior determination of 12 roots in the MCSCF calculation is needed for overall qualitatively correct results from the MRCI calculations. The present calculations yield a bound singlet A' ground state for CuNO and comparared with previous results. We have obtained new, complete potential energy functions of the ground electronic states of CuO and CuN systems. Comparison of the term values for the lowest electronic states of CuO and CuN with those previously reported in the literature shows a quite good agreement. We derived a novel analytical representation of the adiabatic potential energy surface in the ground electronic state of the CuNO system as a sum of two-body and three-body terms. This compact and flexible representation enables us to make a physically correct interpolation of the ab initio data points at the MRCI level of theory. We use a modified Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm for fitting the potential, which has 19 adjustable parameters and which now enables us to do scattering dynamics of the CuNO system. We perform full dimensional quantum dynamical studies with this new potential. Convergence of the time dependent wavepacket calculation has been achieved. We find that the scattering in CuNO is highly inelastic. Intermediate, excited meta stable reaction products CuNO∗ live for about 0.5 to 1 ps and maybe more.

Cette thèse présente le développement de méthodes de simulations numériques basées sur la méthode Multi-Configuration Time Dependent Hartree (MCTDH), pour la modélisation de la dynamique quantique d'espèces atomiques et moléculaires dans des agrégats de gaz rares. Nous avons étudié en particulier les effets quantiques dans la dissociation et la section efficace de capture d'agrégats de néon. Nous avons montré que le temps de vie avant dissociation est 1 à 2 ordres de grandeur plus élevé que dans le cas d'une dynamique classique. De plus, la section efficace de capture est légèrement supérieure et moins sensible à l'augmentation de l'énergie interne de l'agrégat dans le cadre de simulations quantiques que classiques. Par ailleurs, nous avons étudié la réponse d'une matrice de néon à la photo-excitation électronique d'une molécule de monoxyde d'azote avec une méthode MCTDH à dimensionalité réduite et une méthode de champ moyen à dimensionalité complète (G-TDH). Ces 2 méthodes sont systématiquement comparées par le biais de différentes observables pour évaluer la validité de la dernière méthode en vue de l'étendre aux cas où une réduction dimensionalité s'avère difficile et des calculs MCTDH sont hors de portée.

Les travaux réalisés au cours de cette thèse portent sur la dynamique quantique de diffusion d'atomes d'hydrogène sur une surface de palladium (111). L'étude du système 3D a permis de détailler le spectre infrarouge de H/Pd(111) en mettant en évidence l'existence sur différents sites d'adsorption d'états localisés fortement couplés (résonance de Fermi). Ce phénomène gouverne la diffusion des atomes d'hydrogène sur une échelle de temps ultra-rapide (fs).L'étude du système 6D (H2/Pd(111)) a montré que les transitions observées sont, en fait, des bandes de transition entre plusieurs états d'adsorption quasi-dégénérés. L'accord entre les valeurs calculées et mesurées est, par contre, significativement moins bon qu'entre celles calculées pour le système 3D et les données mesurées. Est-ce que l'hydrogène adsorbé sur le palladium existe sous la forme d'une molécule diatomique faiblement lié? Cette thèse a fourni certains éléments de réponse à cette question, qui reste cependant encore ouverte. / The work carried out during this thesis focuses on the quantum dynamics of the diffusion of hydrogen atoms on a surface of palladium (111). The study of the 3D system allowed us to detail the infrared spectrum of H/Pd (111), showing the existence of different adsorption sites on which localized states exist that are strongly coupled (Fermi resonance). This phenomenon governs the diffusion of hydrogen atoms in an ultra-fast time scale (fs).The study of the (6D) H2/Pd(111) system has shown that the transitions observed are in fact transition bands between several quasi-degenerate adsorption states. The agreement between the calculated and measured values is significantly less good than that between the data calculated for the 3D system and the measured data. Does adsorbed hydrogen on palladium exist in the form of a weakly bound H2 molecule? This thesis has provided some answers to this question, which remains open, hovewer, to some extent.

The work carried out during this thesis focuses on the quantum dynamics of the diffusion of hydrogen atoms on a surface of palladium (111). The study of the 3D system allowed us to detail the infrared spectrum of H/Pd (111), showing the existence of different adsorption sites on which localized states exist that are strongly coupled (Fermi resonance). This phenomenon governs the diffusion of hydrogen atoms in an ultra-fast time scale (fs).The study of the (6D) H2/Pd(111) system has shown that the transitions observed are in fact transition bands between several quasi-degenerate adsorption states. The agreement between the calculated and measured values is significantly less good than that between the data calculated for the 3D system and the measured data. Does adsorbed hydrogen on palladium exist in the form of a weakly bound H2 molecule? This thesis has provided some answers to this question, which remains open, hovewer, to some extent.

The multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree-Fock (MCTDHF) and multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree (MCTDH) methods are employed to investigate nonperturbative multielectron dynamics in finite quantum systems. MCTDHF is a powerful tool that allows for the investigation of multielectron dynamics in strongly perturbed quantum systems. We have developed an MCTDHF code that is capable of treating problems involving three dimensional (3D) atoms and molecules exposed to strong laser fields. This code will allow for the theoretical treatment of multielectron phenomena in attosecond science that were previously inaccessible. These problems include complex ionization processes in pump-probe experiments on noble gas atoms, the nonlinear effects that have been observed in Ne atoms in the presence of an x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) and the molecular rearrangement of cations after ionization. An implementation of MCTDH that is optimized for two electrons, each moving in two dimensions (2D), is also presented. This implementation of MCTDH allows for the efficient treatment of 2D spin-free systems involving two electrons; however, it does not scale well to 3D or to systems containing more that two electrons. Both MCTDHF and MCTDH were used to treat 2D problems in nanophysics and attosecond science. MCTDHF is used to investigate plasmon dynamics and the quantum breathing mode for several electrons in finite lateral quantum dots. MCTDHF is also used to study the effects of manipulating the potential of a double lateral quantum dot containing two electrons; applications to quantum computing are discussed. MCTDH is used to examine a diatomic model molecular system exposed to a strong laser field; nonsequential double ionization and high harmonic generation are studied and new processes identified and explained. An implementation of MCTDHF is developed for nonuniform tensor product grids; this will allow for the full 3D implementation of MCTDHF and will provide a means to investigate a wide variety of problems that cannot be currently treated by any other method. Finally, the time it takes for an electron to tunnel from a bound state is investigated; a definition of the tunnel time is established and the Keldysh time is connected to the wavefunction dynamics.

The multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree-Fock (MCTDHF) and multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree (MCTDH) methods are employed to investigate nonperturbative multielectron dynamics in finite quantum systems. MCTDHF is a powerful tool that allows for the investigation of multielectron dynamics in strongly perturbed quantum systems. We have developed an MCTDHF code that is capable of treating problems involving three dimensional (3D) atoms and molecules exposed to strong laser fields. This code will allow for the theoretical treatment of multielectron phenomena in attosecond science that were previously inaccessible. These problems include complex ionization processes in pump-probe experiments on noble gas atoms, the nonlinear effects that have been observed in Ne atoms in the presence of an x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) and the molecular rearrangement of cations after ionization. An implementation of MCTDH that is optimized for two electrons, each moving in two dimensions (2D), is also presented. This implementation of MCTDH allows for the efficient treatment of 2D spin-free systems involving two electrons; however, it does not scale well to 3D or to systems containing more that two electrons. Both MCTDHF and MCTDH were used to treat 2D problems in nanophysics and attosecond science. MCTDHF is used to investigate plasmon dynamics and the quantum breathing mode for several electrons in finite lateral quantum dots. MCTDHF is also used to study the effects of manipulating the potential of a double lateral quantum dot containing two electrons; applications to quantum computing are discussed. MCTDH is used to examine a diatomic model molecular system exposed to a strong laser field; nonsequential double ionization and high harmonic generation are studied and new processes identified and explained. An implementation of MCTDHF is developed for nonuniform tensor product grids; this will allow for the full 3D implementation of MCTDHF and will provide a means to investigate a wide variety of problems that cannot be currently treated by any other method. Finally, the time it takes for an electron to tunnel from a bound state is investigated; a definition of the tunnel time is established and the Keldysh time is connected to the wavefunction dynamics.