First-principles rotation–vibration spectrum of water above dissociation

High-level ab initio electronic structure and variational nuclear motion computations are combined to simulate the spectrum of the water molecule at and above its first dissociation limit. Results of these computations are compared with the related state-selective multi-photon measurements of Grechko et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 138 (2010) 081 103]. Both measured and computed spectra show pronounced structures due to quasi-bound (resonance) states. Traditional resonance features associated with trapping of vibrational or rotational energy of the system are identified and assigned. A strong and broad feature observed slightly above dissociation is found to be associated with direct photodissociation into the continuum.