On the accuracy of thermionic electron emission models. I. Electron detachment from SF6−

Thermionic Emission of Negative Ions of Molecules and Small Clusters as a Probe of Low-Energy Attachment

We have been studying the thermionic emission of negatively charged molecules and small clusters for more than a decade. The kinetic energy released distribution (KERD) of mass-selected negative ions has been measured with a velocity map imaging spectrometer. A comparison of the experimental KERD to detailed balance models provided information on the reverse process, namely, the electron attachment to the parent. The electron attachment to neutral systems (reverse process of the electron emission from anions) is usually described in a simplified way as a single electron capture in the framework of the classical Langevin model. Our measurements show that this approach is insufficient and that, in addition to the capture step, an intramolecular vibrational redistribution (IVR) step should be included. As far as multiply charged anions are concerned, the electron attachment to anions (reverse process of the electron emission from dianions) is strongly affected by the repulsive Coulomb barrier (RCB). Previous studies assumed a pure over-the-barrier process, which is in disagreement with our study. Indeed, electron emission is measured below the RCB, revealing significant thermal tunneling. In the present review, we summarize these works on singly and doubly charged anions in an attempt to present a unified view of the involved processes. It is worth noting that the detailed measurements of KERDs in the very low kinetic energy region (typically around 0.1 eV) have been made possible thanks to electron imaging methods, without which all of this work could never have been done, with time-resolution capabilities allowing the disentangling of direct and delayed electron emission.

Probing Isomerization Dynamics via a Dipole-Bound State

The observation of molecular isomerization dynamics is a long-standing goal in physical chemistry. The loosely bound electron in a dipole-bound state (DBS) can be a messenger for probing the isomerization of the neutral core. Here we study the isomerization dynamics of the salt dimer (NaCl)₂ from linear to rhombic via a DBS using cryogenic photoelectron spectroscopy in combination with ab initio calculations. Although the energy level of the DBS is below the electron affinity of the linear (NaCl)₂, (NaCl)₂^- in its DBS can autodetach due to the linear-to-rhombic isomerization. (NaCl)₂^- in the ground DBS has a relatively long lifetime of a few nanoseconds due to the quantum tunneling through a potential barrier during the transformation from linear to rhombic. In contrast, the vibrationally excited DBS has a much shorter lifetime on the order of picoseconds. The energy distribution of autodetachment electrons has an unexpected characteristic of the thermionic emission.

Kinetic energy released in the vibrational autodetachment of sulfur hexafluoride anion

The kinetic energy release distribution (KERD) in the vibrational autodetachment (VAD) from sulfur hexafluoride anion SF₆ ^- has been measured in a velocity map imaging spectrometer for delays in the range of a few tens of microseconds. The experimental KERD is analyzed within the framework of the detailed-balance: first using the standard Langevin model and subsequently using a more refined and realistic model based on the experimental attachment cross section. A discussion on the processes involved in the attachment and the VAD is presented based on an empirical fit of the attachment cross section. The lifetime derived from the model is in good agreement with the experimental time window, strengthening this theoretical approach for this model system.

Resonance electron attachment and long-lived negative ions of phthalimide and pyromellitic diimide

Resonance attachment of low energy (0-15 eV) electrons to imide-containing molecules, phthalimide (PTI) and pyromellitic diimide (PMDI), was investigated in the gas-phase by means of Electron Transmission Spectroscopy (ETS) and Dissociative Electron Attachment Spectroscopy (DEAS). Among a variety of low intensity negatively charged fragments formed by DEA, in both compounds the dominant species was found to be a long-lived (μs) parent molecular anion formed at zero energy. In addition, in PMDI long-lived molecular anions were also observed at 0.85 and 2.0 eV. The experimentally evaluated detachment times from the molecular anions as a function of incident electron energy are modeled with a simple computational approach based on the RRKM theory. The occurrence of radiationless transitions to the ground anion state, followed by internal vibrational relaxation, is believed to be a plausible mechanism to explain the exceptionally long lifetime of the PMDI molecular anions formed above zero energy.

Pressure and temperature dependence of dissociative and non-dissociative electron attachment to CF3: experiments and kinetic modeling

The kinetics of electron attachment to CF(3) as a function of temperature (300-600 K) and pressure (0.75-2.5 Torr) were studied by variable electron and neutral density attachment mass spectrometry exploiting dissociative electron attachment to CF(3)Br as a radical source. Attachment occurs through competing dissociative (CF(3) + e(-) → CF(2) + F(-)) and non-dissociative channels (CF(3) + e(-) → CF(3)(-)). The rate constant of the dissociative channel increases strongly with temperature, while that of the non-dissociative channel decreases. The rate constant of the non-dissociative channel increases strongly with pressure, while that of the dissociative channel shows little dependence. The total rate constant of electron attachment increases with temperature and with pressure. The system is analyzed by kinetic modeling in terms of statistical theory in order to understand its properties and to extrapolate to conditions beyond those accessible in the experiment.

Kinetic energy spectra in thermionic emission from small tungsten cluster anions: evidence for nonclassical electron capture

The delayed electron emission from small mass-selected anionic tungsten clusters W(n)(-) has been studied for sizes in the range 9 < or = n < or = 21. Kinetic energy spectra have been measured for delays of about 100 ns after laser excitation by a velocity-map imaging spectrometer. They are analyzed in the framework of microreversible statistical theories. The low-energy behavior shows some significant deviations with respect to the classical Langevin capture model, which we interpret as possibly due to the influence of quantum dynamical effects such as tunneling through the centrifugal barrier, rather than shape effects. The cluster temperature has been extracted from both the experimental kinetic energy spectrum and the absolute decay rate. Discrepancies between the two approaches suggest that the sticking probability can be as low as a few percent for the smallest clusters.

Threshold behavior and analytical fitting of partial wave capture probabilities for attractive R(-n) potentials

Numerically accurate analytical fittings for partial wave capture probabilities in the field of R(-n) potentials (n = 4 and 6) are presented across practically interesting ranges of probabilities. The results demonstrate the performance of the Bethe and Wigner threshold laws at low collision energies and should be useful for practical applications.