Communication: THz absorption spectrum of the CO{sub 2}–H{sub 2}O complex: Observation and assignment of intermolecular van der Waals vibrations

Terahertz absorption spectra have been recorded for the weakly bound CO{sub 2}–H{sub 2}O complex embedded in cryogenic neon matrices at 2.8 K. The three high-frequency van der Waals vibrational transitions associated with out-of-plane wagging, in-plane rocking, and torsional motion of the isotopic H{sub 2}O subunit have been assigned and provide crucial observables for benchmark theoretical descriptions of this systems’ flat intermolecular potential energy surface. A (semi)-empirical value for the zero-point energy of 273 ± 15 cm{sup −1} from the class of intermolecular van der Waals vibrations is proposed and the combination with high-level quantum chemical calculations provides a value of 726 ± 15 cm{sup −1} for the dissociation energy D{sub 0}.