Theoretical spin–rovibronic 2A1(Πu)–2B1 spectrum of the H2O+, HDO+, and D2O+ cations

Based on extensive ab initio multiconfiguration reference configuration interaction (MRCI) electronic structure calculations, three-dimensional potential energy functions for the A 2A1(Πu)–X 2B1 linear/bent Renner–Teller systems of H2O+, HDO+, and D2O+ have been generated and used in beyond Born–Oppenheimer calculations of the spin–rovibronic energy levels by a variational approach. The effects of anharmonicity, rotation–vibration, electronic angular momenta, and spin coupling effects have been accounted for. For H2O+, HDO+, and D2O+ vibronic band origins for the bending levels to Ka=5 and for selected stretching and combination levels are given. Almost all experimentally known data have been reproduced with an accuracy better than 10 cm−1 after minor modifications of the ab initio potential energy functions. Our calculated values will facilitate further experimental assignments. A consistent interpretation of the photoelectron spectra for the different isotopes of water is given. Previous assignments of the bending modes in the A 2A1 state have been revised by two quantum numbers.