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Title: Photoionization Dynamics in Pure Helium Droplets

Abstract

The photoionization and photoelectron spectroscopy of pure He droplets are investigated at photon energies between 24.6 eV (the ionization energy of He) and 28 eV. Time-of-flight mass spectra and photoelectron images were obtained at a series of molecular beam source temperatures and pressures to assess the effect of droplet size on the photoionization dynamics. At source temperatures below 16 K, the photoelectron images are dominated by fast electrons produced via direct ionization of He atoms, with a small contribution from very slow electrons with kinetic energies below 1 meV arising from an indirect mechanism. The fast photoelectrons have as much as 0.5 eV more kinetic energy than those from atomic He at the same photon energy. This result is interpreted and simulated within the context of a 'dimer model', in which one assumes vertical ionization from two nearest neighbor He atoms to the attractive region of the He2+ potential energy curve. Possible mechanism for the slow electrons, which were also seen at energies below IE(He), are discussed, including vibrational autoionizaton of Rydberg states comprising an electron weakly bound to the surface of a large HeN+ core.

Authors:
; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Director, Office of Science
OSTI Identifier:
920170
Report Number(s):
LBNL-62405
Journal ID: ISSN 0022-3654; JPCHAX; TRN: US0805663
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC02-05CH11231
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Physical Chemistry
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 111; Journal Issue: 31; Related Information: Journal Publication Date: 2007; Journal ID: ISSN 0022-3654
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; ATOMS; ELECTRONS; HELIUM; IONIZATION; KINETIC ENERGY; KINETICS; MASS SPECTRA; MOLECULAR BEAMS; PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY; PHOTOIONIZATION; PHOTONS; POTENTIAL ENERGY; RYDBERG STATES

Citation Formats

Peterka, Darcy S, Kim, Jeong Hyun, Wang, Chia C, Poisson, Lionel, and Neumark, Daniel M. Photoionization Dynamics in Pure Helium Droplets. United States: N. p., 2007. Web. doi:10.1021/jp0710032.
Peterka, Darcy S, Kim, Jeong Hyun, Wang, Chia C, Poisson, Lionel, & Neumark, Daniel M. Photoionization Dynamics in Pure Helium Droplets. United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp0710032
Peterka, Darcy S, Kim, Jeong Hyun, Wang, Chia C, Poisson, Lionel, and Neumark, Daniel M. 2007. "Photoionization Dynamics in Pure Helium Droplets". United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp0710032. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/920170.
@article{osti_920170,
title = {Photoionization Dynamics in Pure Helium Droplets},
author = {Peterka, Darcy S and Kim, Jeong Hyun and Wang, Chia C and Poisson, Lionel and Neumark, Daniel M},
abstractNote = {The photoionization and photoelectron spectroscopy of pure He droplets are investigated at photon energies between 24.6 eV (the ionization energy of He) and 28 eV. Time-of-flight mass spectra and photoelectron images were obtained at a series of molecular beam source temperatures and pressures to assess the effect of droplet size on the photoionization dynamics. At source temperatures below 16 K, the photoelectron images are dominated by fast electrons produced via direct ionization of He atoms, with a small contribution from very slow electrons with kinetic energies below 1 meV arising from an indirect mechanism. The fast photoelectrons have as much as 0.5 eV more kinetic energy than those from atomic He at the same photon energy. This result is interpreted and simulated within the context of a 'dimer model', in which one assumes vertical ionization from two nearest neighbor He atoms to the attractive region of the He2+ potential energy curve. Possible mechanism for the slow electrons, which were also seen at energies below IE(He), are discussed, including vibrational autoionizaton of Rydberg states comprising an electron weakly bound to the surface of a large HeN+ core.},
doi = {10.1021/jp0710032},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/920170}, journal = {Journal of Physical Chemistry},
issn = {0022-3654},
number = 31,
volume = 111,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Feb 04 00:00:00 EST 2007},
month = {Sun Feb 04 00:00:00 EST 2007}
}