Electronic decay following ionization of aqueous Li+ microsolvation clusters

Abstract

Ionization in the energetical range between 35 eV and 75 eV of aqueous Li(+) microsolvation clusters may initialize several different electronic decay processes. Electronic decay following H(2)O 2s ionization in a cationic cluster is reported. Li ionization probes the efficiency of electron transfer mediated decay (ETMD) processes. We report estimated ETMD lifetimes in the range of 20-100 fs for clusters with one to five water monomers. Furthermore, tertiary electron emission may occur via a combined cascade of electron transfer mediated decay and intermolecular Coulombic decay.