In press in the Journal of Physical Chemistry. This paper on the low-frequency vibrational properties of methamphetamine marks a transitional point in the simulation of terahertz (THz) spectra by density functional theory (DFT), as both Crystal06 and Abinit provide the means to calculating infrared intensities in the solid-state by a more rigorous method than the difference-dipole method that has been used in the many previous THz papers with DMol3 (performed externally from the DMol3 program proper). The original manuscript came back with two important comments from Reviewer 3 (that crazy Reviewer 3. Is there nothing they'll think of to critique?).
The best-fit spectral assignment by visual inspection (BOP/DNP level of theory) and by statistical analysis (BP/DNP level of theory) are shown below (the paper, of course, contains significantly more on this point). With these two spectral simulations in mind, Reviewer 3 presented the following analysis that I think is certainly worth considering generally to anyone new to the computational chemistry game and even by general practitioners who might risk becoming complaisant in their favorite theoretical technique. There's a reason we refer to the collection of computational quantum chemical tools as the "approximate methods."
I have difficulty with what appears to be a generalization of the applicability of using density functional for modeling THz spectra… It is disturbing that the different functionals will generate different numbers of modes within the spectral region, and it is hard to imagine how we should move forward with density functional for calculating spectra of this type. In fact, it is true that one needs to include the "lattice" to get the spectra right in these regions, but it is not obvious that DFT will provide the level of rigor required to develop a predictive capability. Furthermore, given the "uncertainties regarding the number of modes", is it possible that the mode assignments are invalid?
In my opinion, the authors point out the need for solid-state DFT, but should point out that in its current incarnation, that DFT is currently inadequate for quantitative comparison with experiment, and that more work needs to be done with the theory to make it quantitative.
The response to the reviewer about these points goes as such:
We agree completely with the reviewer's criticism on these points of spectral reproduction, but we also believe that there should be a sharp separation between the capabilities of the DFT formalism and the capabilities of the many empirically-derived density functionals that currently make up the complement of "tools" within the DFT formalism. Unlike the selection of basis set, which we often presume will improve agreement because of the improvement to the description of the electronic wavefunction that comes from additional functions, it is the case (specifically among the survey studies in THz simulations performed by the authors in this and previous publications) among the currently available GGA density functionals that the reproduction of the physical property under consideration is determined by the functional. We also know that the reproduction of the lowest-energy solid-state vibrational features in molecular solids were NOT part of the initial complement of metrics used in gauging the accuracy of density functionals, so it is clear that we are performing survey calculations using available tools to determine which tools may be most reliably employed for performing THz assignments while not actively engaged in the development of new tools. In the simulation of vibrational spectra, it is clear that we can never entirely trust the simulations until it is known unambiguously by experimentalists exactly what the motion associated with each vibrational mode is, which brings up the need for polarization experiments, Raman experiments to complement the mode assignments, etc. Such rigorous detail for this region of the spectrum is very likely not known for a great many molecules of interest by the communities most interested in the benefits of THz spectroscopy.
In the meantime and in the absence of "complete datasets," we agree with all of the reviewers (to a point either addressed directly or indirectly through questions along the same vein) that the best that a theoretical survey like the one presented here can do is aid in the generation of a functional consensus view, which is something that requires mode-by-mode analyses as mentioned by the reviewer.
Patrick M. Hakey, Damian G. Allis, Wayne Ouellette, and Timothy M. Korter
Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-4100
Abstract: The cryogenic terahertz spectrum of (+)-methamphetamine hydrochloride from 10.0 – 100.0 cm-1 is presented, as is the complete structural analysis and vibrational assignment of the compound using solid-state density functional theory. This cryogenic investigation reveals multiple spectral features not previously reported in room-temperature terahertz studies of the title compound. Modeling of the compound employed eight density functionals utilizing both solid-state and isolated-molecule methods. The results clearly indicate the necessity of solid-state simulations for the accurate assignment of solid-state THz spectra. Assignment of the observed spectral features to specific atomic motions is based upon the BP density functional, which provided the best-fit solid-state simulation of the experimental spectrum. The seven experimental spectral features are the result of thirteen infrared-active vibrational modes predicted at a BP/DNP level of theory, with more than 90% of the total spectral intensity associated with external crystal vibrations.
pubs.acs.org/journal/jpcafh
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_domain_terahertz_spectroscopy
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Density_functional_theory
www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~aulbur/dft.html
www.crystal.unito.it
www.abinit.org
www.somewhereville.com/?cat=8
accelrys.com/products/materials-studio/modules/dmol3.html
link.aip.org/link/?JCPSA6/110/10664/1
link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevA.38.3098
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computational_chemistry
chemistry.syr.edu