Ab initio supermolecular SCF calculations at the STO-3G level are reported for the diacetylene-hydrogen fluoride complexes. The reverse σ-complex is predicted to have somewhat higher stability and H-bond strength than the π-complexes.

The charge-transfer energetics of interactions in a series of closed-shell cation-inert gas pairs is studied by using a model based on the electronegativity equalization principle. These results arc compared with those obtained from SCF calculations carried out at the STO-3G level. A model interaction potential is tested for these systems. The possible effect of an additional electrostatic factor in the charge transfer process is investigated.

An MCSCF model including the effects of solvent polarization is developed. The model is applied within the limitations of INDO approximations to look into the dominant effects of solvent polarization on the electronic structure in the excited states of a model system (e.g.nπ^* states of H₂CO). Important features of macroscopic solvation-induced reorganization of electron density and some consequence thereof are noted.

A variant of the orthogonal gradient method of orbital optimization in the INDO-MCSCF framework has been used to study the photochemical decomposition of the HNO molecule into H + NO in the lowest^1.3A″ states. A complete geometry optimization has been carried out at all points of the reaction path which appears to be almost barrierless. The one-electron density matrix extracted from the optimized wavefunction at each point has been used to generate the relevant sets of quantum chemical valence parameters. A sharp transition is noted in the N-H bond order and hydrogen free valence index when plotted as functions of r_NH. This enables us to locate the transition region easily.

The complementarity of one- and two-photon spectroscopy has been utilised for throwing light on the following problems of chemical interest: (1) Weak interaction between identical chromophores separated by insulating bridges gives rise to split states of different symmetries. Two-photon spectroscopy (TPA), in conjunction with one-photon absorption (OPA), has been used to identify the states and hence to estimate the magnitude of interaction in bimolecules and trimolecules. From the shifts between the one- and the two-photon spectra, the splittings have been estimated. Calculations confirm that the dominant interaction is the through-bond one. (2) The second type of problem is the identification ofg andu vibrations in molecules. We have initiated studies on three molecules in jet-cooled conditions: 9,10-dihydro-anthracene (DHA). 9,10-dihydro-phenanthrene (DHP) and octa-fluoronaph-thalene (OFN). Only the one-photon fluorescence excitation spectra have so far been obtained by us and the TPA spectra are under investigation. (3) The third class of molecules discussed here are the Ln³⁺ complexes wherefⁿ⇒ fⁿ transitions are intrinsically two-photon allowed. We have studied two GD³⁺ single crystals. The CF-splittings, observed clearly in TPA, have been fitted with a parametric model. Some of our observations on the variations of TPA intensity patterns from crystal to crystal, such as circular:linear polarisation ratios, relative intensities of transitions to differentJ-states, do not quite fit in with the Axe-Judd-Downer model. The discrepancies call for a reappraisal of the role of ligand in the TPA process.

A local grid method for modelling real-time quantum dynamical events is formulated. The formulation is straightforward for 1-D systems. For more than one dimension, appeal has to be made to mean-field approximation of the appropriate kind. The simplest mean-field model results in time-dependent Hartree-Fourier grid method. The relationship of the proposed method with some other methods available in the literature is examined. A few examples of numerical applications dealing with (i) the dynamics of dissociation and ionization processes in diatoms and atoms respectively and (ii) tunnelling dynamics in the intramolecular H-atom transfer phenomenon are presented.

A genetic algorithm-based recipe involving minimization of the Rayleigh quotient is proposed for the sequential extraction of eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a real symmetric matrix with and without basis optimization. Important features of the method are analysed, and possible directions of development suggested

The dissociation of a diatomic molecule in low frequency polychromatic fields of moderate intensities is studied. Genetic Algorithm is invoked to search out a set of four optimal non-resonant frequencies ($\omega_1$ - $\omega_4$), intensities ($\epsilon_1$ - $\epsilon_4$) the and phase angles ($\delta_1 - \delta_4$), for achieving a facile photo dissociation. Time-dependent Hellmann-Feynman theorem is used to gain insight into the frequency resolved energy absorption pattern. The ‘quantum phase space’ structures indicate occurrence of bond breaking dynamics akin to the classical one.

The quantum dynamics of intramolecular H-atom transfer in malonaldehyde is investigated with a model two-dimensional Hamiltonian constructed with the help of available ab initio theoretical data on the relevant portion of the potential energy surface. At zero temperature, the H-atom transfer takes place by tunnelling leading to cis-cis isomerization while the cis-trans channel remains closed. Local excitation of the cis-trans mode by an external field is predicted to quench cis-cis tunnelling isomerization while excitation of the cis-cis mode is found to enhance the isomerization by tunnelling.