Electronic excitation and thermal effects in alkali-halide cluster anions

Phys Rev Lett. 2000 Jan 3;84(1):51-4. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.51.

Abstract

We have observed electronically excited states in alkali-halide cluster anions with one excess electron. Using photoelectron spectroscopy, we have found two narrow states in (KI)-2, (NaI)-2, and (NaCl)-2, consistent with a dipole-bound electron, while larger cluster anions exhibit a single broad excited state. In the larger systems, electronic excitation is often accompanied by vibrational excitation and thus a change in cluster temperature. Such temperature changes affect cluster structure and in some cases lead to rapid thermal isomerization.