Theoretical Study of M+-RG and M2+-RG Complexes and Transport of M+ through RG (M = Be and Mg, RG = He-Rn)

We present high level ab initio potential energy curves for the Mn+-RG complexes, where n = 1, 2, RG = rare gas, and M = Be and Mg. Spectroscopic constants have been derived from these potentials, and they generally show very good agreement with the available experimental data. The potentials have also been employed in calculating transport coefficients for M+ moving through a bath of RG atoms, and the isotopic scaling relationship is examined for Mg+ in Ne. Trends in binding energies, D-e, and bond lengths, R-e, are discussed and compared to similar ab initio results involving the corresponding complexes of the heavier alkaline earth metal ions. We identify some very unusual behavior, particularly for Be+-Ne, and offer possible explanations.