Negative ion formation in alkali-atom-molecule collisions

Abstract

Negative ion formation in alkali-atom-molecule collisions is a powerful method to study the dynamic properties of negative ions. By studying a collision with an electron donor such as an alkali atom one has access to the electron affinity of the molecule as it is manifested in the collision. The electron affinities obtained depend on the conditions of the collision and do not have to be identical to electron affinities obtained by other means. In this way adiabatic, vertical and reactive electron affinities can be discerned. Moreover if the collision energy is in the eV region one can probe the vibrational dynamics of a negative molecular ion on a 10 fs timescale.