Slow photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy of C(2)N(-), C(4)N(-), and C(6)N(-)

Etienne Garand; Tara I Yacovitch; Daniel M Neumark

doi:10.1063/1.3076320

Slow photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy of C(2)N(-), C(4)N(-), and C(6)N(-)

J Chem Phys. 2009 Feb 14;130(6):064304. doi: 10.1063/1.3076320.

Authors

Etienne Garand¹, Tara I Yacovitch, Daniel M Neumark

Affiliation

¹ Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.

PMID: 19222275
DOI: 10.1063/1.3076320

Abstract

High resolution photoelectron spectra of C(2)N(-), C(4)N(-), and C(6)N(-) anions are reported, obtained using slow electron velocity-map imaging. The spectra show well resolved transitions to the X (2)Pi neutral ground state of all three species and to the a (4)Sigma(-) excited state of C(2)N and C(4)N. This study yields the adiabatic electron affinity of C(2)N, C(4)N, and C(6)N, the spin-orbit splitting in the X (2)Pi state of each radical, and the term energy of the a (4)Sigma(-) state in C(2)N and C(4)N. Relatively little vibrational activity is observed, indicating small geometry changes upon photodetachment. This result, plus the observation of transitions to neutral quartet states, indicates that the C(2n)N(-) (n=1-3) anions all have linear (3)Sigma(-) ground states.