Formation of K*He exciplexes on the surface of helium nanodroplets studied in real time

Reaction dynamics within a cluster environment

This perspective article reviews experimental and theoretical works where rare gas clusters and helium nanodroplets are used as a nanoreactor to investigate chemical dynamics in a solvent environment. A historical perspective is presented first followed by specific considerations on the mobility of reactants within these reaction media. The dynamical response of pure clusters and nanodroplets to photoexcitation is shortly reviewed before examining the role of the cluster (or nanodroplet) degrees of freedom in the photodynamics of the guest atoms and molecules.

Dynamics of Photoexcited Cs Atoms Attached to Helium Nanodroplets

We present an experimental study of the dynamics following the photoexcitation and subsequent photoionization of single Cs atoms on the surface of helium nanodroplets. The dynamics of excited Cs atom desorption and readsorption as well as CsHe exciplex formation are measured by using femtosecond pump-probe velocity map imaging spectroscopy and ion time-of-flight spectrometry. The time scales for the desorption of excited Cs atoms off helium nanodroplets as well as the time scales for CsHe exciplex formation are experimentally determined for the 6p states of Cs. For the 6p ²Π_1/2 state, our results confirm that the excited Cs atoms only desorb from the nanodroplet when the excitation wavenumber is blue-shifted from the 6p ²Π_1/2 ← 6s ²Σ_1/2 resonance. Our results suggest that the dynamics following excitation to the 6p ²Π_3/2 state can be described by an evaporation-like desorption mechanism, whereas the dynamics arising from excitation to the 6p ²Σ_1/2 state is indicative for a more impulsive desorption process. Furthermore, our results suggest a helium-induced spin-orbit relaxation from the 6p ²Σ_1/2 state to the 6p ²Π_1/2 state. Our findings largely agree with the results of time-dependent ⁴He density functional theory (DFT) simulations published earlier [Eur. Phys. J. D 2019, 73, 94].

4s to 5s and 4p photoexcitation dynamics of K atoms from the surface of helium nanodroplets: a theoretical study

We study the photodissociation of the potassium atom from a superfluid helium nanodroplet upon 5s ²S or 4p ²P excitation using the time-dependent helium density functional method (He-TDDFT). The results show possible K spin–orbit relaxation.

Desorption dynamics of RbHe exciplexes off He nanodroplets induced by spin-relaxation

Doped He nanodroplets are ideal model systems to study elementary photophysical processes in hetero-nanostructures. Here we study the formation of free RbHe exciplexes from laser-excited Rb-doped He nanodroplets.

Imaging Excited-State Dynamics of Doped He Nanodroplets in Real-Time

The real-time dynamics of excited alkali metal atoms (Rb) attached to quantum fluid He nanodroplets is investigated using femtosecond imaging spectroscopy and time-dependent density functional theory. We disentangle the competing dynamics of desorption of excited Rb atoms off the He droplet surface and solvation inside the droplet interior as the Rb atom is ionized. For Rb excited to the 5p and 6p states, desorption occurs on starkly differing time scales (∼100 versus ∼1 ps, respectively). The comparison between theory and experiment indicates that desorption proceeds either impulsively (6p) or in a transition regime between impulsive dissociation and complex desorption (5p).

Desorption Dynamics of Rb2 Molecules Off the Surface of Helium Nanodroplets

The desorption dynamics of rubidium dimers (Rb₂) off the surface of helium nanodroplets induced by laser excitation is studied by employing both nanosecond and femtosecond ion imaging spectroscopy. Similarly to alkali metal atoms, we find that the Rb₂ desorption process resembles the dissociation of a diatomic molecule. However, both angular and energy distributions of detected Rb₂⁺ ions appear to be most crucially determined by the Rb₂ intramolecular degrees of freedom rather than by those of the Rb₂He_N complex. The pump-probe dynamics of Rb₂⁺ is found to be slower than that of Rb⁺, pointing at a weaker effective guest-host repulsion for excited molecules than for single atoms.

Phase-modulated electronic wave packet interferometry reveals high resolution spectra of free Rb atoms and Rb*He molecules

Phase-modulated wave packet interferometry is combined with mass-resolved photoion detection to investigate rubidium atoms attached to helium nanodroplets in a molecular beam experiment. The spectra of atomic Rb electronic states show a vastly enhanced sensitivity and spectral resolution when compared to conventional pump-probe wave packet interferometry. Furthermore, the formation of Rb*He exciplex molecules is probed and for the first time a fully resolved vibrational spectrum for transitions between the lowest excited 5Π3/2 and the high-lying electronic states 2(2)Π, 4(2)Δ, 6(2)Σ is obtained and compared to theory. The feasibility of applying coherent multidimensional spectroscopy to dilute cold gas phase samples is demonstrated in these experiments.

Spectroscopy and Dynamics of K Atoms on Argon Clusters

We present a combined experimental and simulation study of the 4s → 4p photoexcitation of the K atom trapped at the surface of ArN clusters made of a few hundred Ar atoms. Our experimental method based on photoelectron spectroscopy allows us to firmly establish that one single K atom is trapped at the surface of the cluster. The absorption spectrum is characterized by the splitting of the atomic absorption line into two broad bands, a Π band associated with p orbitals parallel to the cluster surface and a Σ band associated with the perpendicular orientation. The spectrum is consistent with observations reported for K atoms trapped on lighter inert gas clusters, but the splitting between the Π and Σ bands is significantly larger. We show that a large amount of K atoms are transiently stuck and eventually lost by the Ar cluster, in contrast with previous observations reported for alkaline earth metal systems. The excitation in the Σ band leads systematically to the ejection of the K atom from the Ar cluster. On the contrary, excitation in the Π band leads to the formation of a bound state. In this case, the analysis of the experimental photoelectron spectrum by means of nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulation shows that the relaxation drives the system toward a basin where the coordination of the K atom is 2.2 Ar atoms on the average, in a poorly structured surface.

Coupled electronic and structural relaxation pathways in the postexcitation dynamics of Rydberg states of BaArN clusters

We investigate, theoretically, the joint relaxation of orbital and structure in postexcitation dynamics of Rydberg states of cluster BaArN (N=250). Mixed quantum-classical dynamics is used to account for the nonadiabatic transitions among more than 160 electronic states, represented via a diatomics-in-molecules Hamiltonian. The simulation illustrates the complex multistep relaxation processes and provides detailed insight in the mechanisms contributing to the final-time experimental photoelectron spectrum.

One- and two-color resonant photoionization spectroscopy of chromium-doped helium nanodroplets

We investigate the photoinduced relaxation dynamics of Cr atoms embedded into superfluid helium nanodroplets. One- and two-color resonant two-photon ionization (1CR2PI and 2CR2PI, respectively) are applied to study the two strong ground state transitions z⁷P_2,3,4^° ← a⁷S₃ and y⁷P_2,3,4^° ← a⁷S₃. Upon photoexcitation, Cr* atoms are ejected from the droplet in various excited states, as well as paired with helium atoms as Cr*–He_n exciplexes. For the y⁷P_2,3,4^° intermediate state, comparison of the two methods reveals that energetically lower states than previously identified are also populated. With 1CR2PI we find that the population of ejected z⁵P₃^° states is reduced for increasing droplet size, indicating that population is transferred preferentially to lower states during longer interaction with the droplet. In the 2CR2PI spectra we find evidence for generation of bare Cr atoms in their septet ground state (a⁷S₃) and metastable quintet state (a⁵S₂), which we attribute to a photoinduced fast excitation–relaxation cycle mediated by the droplet. A fraction of Cr atoms in these ground and metastable states is attached to helium atoms, as indicated by blue wings next to bare atom spectral lines. These relaxation channels provide new insight into the interaction of excited transition metal atoms with helium nanodroplets.

Coinage metal exciplexes with helium atoms: a theoretical study of M*(2L)He(n) (M = Cu, Ag, Au; L = P,D)

The structure and energetics of exciplexes M*((2)L)He(n) (M = Cu, Ag and Au; L = P and D) in their vibrational ground state are studied by employing diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC). Interaction potentials between the excited coinage metals and He atoms are built using the Diatomics-in-Molecule (DIM) approach and ab initio potential curves for the M((2)L)-He dimers. Extending our previous work [Cargnoni et al., J. Phys. Chem. A, 2011, 115, 7141], we computed the dimer potential for Au in the (2)P and (2)D states, as well for Cu and Ag in the (2)D state, employing basis set superposition error-corrected Configuration Interaction calculations. We found that the (2)Π potential correlating with the (2)P state of Au is substantially less binding than for Ag and Cu, a trend well supported by the M(+) ionic radiuses. Conversely, the interaction potentials between a (n - 1)d(9)ns(2 2)D metal and He present a very weak dependency on M itself or the projection of the angular momentum along the dimer axis. This is due to the screening exerted by the ns(2) electrons on the hole in the (n - 1)d shell. Including the spin-orbit coupling perturbatively in the DIM energy matrix has a major effect on the lowest potential energy surface of the (2)P manifold, the one for Cu allowing the formation of a "belt" of five He atoms while the one for Au being completely repulsive. Conversely, spin-orbit coupling has only a weak effect on the (2)D manifold due to the nearly degenerate nature of the diatomic potentials. Structural and energetic results from DMC have been used to support experimental indications for the formation of metastable exciplexes or the opening of non-radiative depopulation channels in bulk and cold gaseous He.

Fluorescence emission of Ca-atom from photodissociated Ca2 in Ar doped helium droplets. II. Theoretical

The stability of the ground or excited state calcium atom in an argon-doped helium droplet has been investigated using an extension of the helium density functional method to treat clusters. This work was motivated by the experimental study presented in a companion paper, hereafter called Paper I [A. Masson, M. Briant, J. M. Mestdagh, M. A. Gaveau, A. Hernando, and N. Halberstadt, J. Chem. Phys. 137, 184310 (2012)], which investigated Ca(2) photodissociation in an argon-doped helium droplet and the nature of the fluorescent species. It is found that one single argon atom is sufficient to bring the calcium atom inside the droplet, for droplets of over 200 helium atoms. The absorption and emission spectra of CaAr(M) (M = 0-7) clusters have been simulated using the recently developed density sampling method to describe the influence of the helium environment. Absorption spectra exhibit broad, double bands that are significantly blueshifted with respect to the calcium atomic line. The emission spectra are less broad and redshifted with respect to the calcium resonance line. The shifts are found to be additive only for M ≤ 2, because only the first two argon atoms are located in equivalent positions around the calcium p orbital. This finding gives a justification for the fit presented in the companion paper, which uses the observed shifts in the emission spectra as a function of argon pressure to deduce the shifts as a function of the number of argon atoms present in the cluster. An analysis of this fit is presented here, based on the calculated shifts. It is concluded that the emitting species following Ca(2) photodissociation in an argon-doped droplet in Paper I could be Ca∗Ar(M) in a partly evaporated droplet where less than 200 helium atoms remain.

Homo- and heteronuclear alkali metal trimers formed on helium nanodroplets. Part II. Femtosecond spectroscopy and spectra assignments

Homo- and heteronuclear alkali quartet trimers of type K(3-n)Rb(n) (n = 0,1,2,3) formed on helium nanodroplets are probed by one-color femtosecond (fs) photoionization (PI) spectroscopy. The obtained frequencies are assigned to vibrations in different electronic states in comparison to high level ab initio calculations of the involved potentials including pronounced Jahn-Teller and spin-orbit couplings. Despite the fact that the resulting complex vibronic structure of the heavy alkali molecules complicates the comparison of experiment and theory we find good agreement for many of the observed lines for all species.

Unusual Rydberg system consisting of a positively charged helium nanodroplet with an orbiting electron

Evidence is presented of an unusual Rydberg system consisting of a helium nanodroplet containing a positively charged sodium ion and an orbiting electron. Rydberg states of this system with principal quantum number n<20 are found to be unstable on a nanosecond time scale. In contrast, Rydberg states with n≳100 are found to have a lifetime of 1.1 μs. In addition, it is found that the ionization threshold of sodium-doped helium is broadened and redshifted with respect to that of the free atom. These observations are successfully reproduced using a pseudodiatomic description of the system in which the interactions of the sodium and its ion with the helium are calculated as the sum of pair potentials.

Triplet State Excitation of Alkali Molecules on Helium Droplets: Experiments and Theory

In this paper, we discuss the electronic structure of alkali dimer molecules in 3Pig states on the surface of a helium droplet. The perturbation due to the droplet will in general not satisfy rotational symmetry around the internuclear axis of the diatom and thus, in addition to a broadening and blue shift, will cause a splitting of electronic levels that are degenerate in the free molecules. We propose a model based on general symmetry arguments and on a small number of physically reasonable parameters. We demonstrate that such a model accounts for the essential features of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra of the (1)3Pig-a3Sigma+ transition of Rb2 and K2. Furthermore the MCD spectra, analyzed according to the approach of Langford and Williamson [J. Phys. Chem. A 1998, 102, 2415], allow a determination of the populations of Zeeman sublevels in the ground state and thus a measurement of the surface temperature of the droplet. The latter agrees with the accepted temperature, 0.37 K, measured in the interior of a droplet.

Rydberg states of small NaArn* clusters

The 4s and 5s Rydberg excited states of NaAr(n)* clusters are investigated using a pseudopotential quantum-classical method. While NaAr(n) clusters in their ground state are known to be weakly bound van der Waals complexes with Na lying at the surface of the argon cluster, isomers in 4s or 5s electronically excited states of small NaAr(n)* clusters (n< or =10) are found to be stable versus dissociation. The relationship between electronic excitation and cluster geometry is analyzed as a function of cluster size. For both 4s and 5s states, the stable exciplex isomers essentially appear as sodium-centered structures with similar topologies, converging towards those of the related NaAr(n)+ positive ions when the excitation level is increased. This is consistent with a Rydberg-type picture for the electronically excited cluster, described by a central sodium ion solvated by an argon shell, and an outer diffuse electron orbiting around this NaAr(n)+ cluster core.

Cs*Hen exciplexes in solid He4

We present a theoretical and experimental study of the laser-induced formation process and of the emission spectra of Cs*He(n) exciplexes in the hcp and bcc phases of solid helium. Two different exciplex molecules are detected: a linear triatomic Cs*He2, which can exist in two electronic states: APi(1/2) and BPi(3/2), and a larger complex, where six or seven He atoms form a ring around a single cesium atom in the 6P(1/2) state. A theoretical model is presented, which allows the interpretation of the experimentally observed spectra.

Discovery of dumbbell-shaped Cs*Hen exciplexes in solid 4He

We have observed several new spectral features in the fluorescence of cesium atoms implanted in the hcp phase of solid helium following laser excitation to the 62P states. Based on calculations of the emission spectra using semiempirical Cs-He pair potentials the newly discovered lines can be assigned to the decay of specific Cs*Hen exciplexes: an apple-shaped Cs(APi3/2)He2 and a dumbbell-shaped Cs(APi1/2)Hen exciplex with a well-defined number n of bound helium atoms. While the former has been observed in other environments, it was commonly believed that exciplexes with n>2 might not exist. The calculations suggest Cs(APi1/2)He7 to be the most probable candidate for that exciplex, in which the helium atoms are arranged on a ring around the waist of the dumbbell-shaped electronic density distribution of the cesium atom.

Spectroscopy of Cs attached to helium nanodroplets

Cesium oligomers are formed on helium nanodroplets which are doped with one or a few Cs atoms. The monomer absorption of the first electronic p<--s transition upon laser excitation is probed. Spectra employing laser-induced fluorescence, beam depletion, and resonant photoionization are compared. In particular, mass-resolved photoionization allows us to specifically probe excitation induced processes such as, e.g., the formation of cesium-helium exciplexes. Absorption spectra of Cs dimers and trimers are recorded in the spectral region accessible by a Ti:sapphire laser. Assignment of dimer spectra is achieved by comparison with model calculations based on ab initio potentials. Electronic absorption lines of Cs trimers are attributed to transitions in the quartet manifold.

Formation times of RbHe exciplexes on the surface of superfluid versus normal fluid helium nanodroplets

Nanodroplets of either superfluid 4He or normal fluid 3He are doped with Rb atoms that are bound to the surface of the droplets. The formation of RbHe exciplexes upon 5P(3/2) excitation is monitored in real time by femtosecond pump-probe techniques. We find formation times of 8.5 and 11.6 ps for Rb 4He and Rb 3He, respectively. A comparison to calculations based on a tunneling model introduced for these systems by Reho et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 113, 9694 (2000)]] shows that the proposed mechanism cannot account for our findings. Apparently, a different relaxation dynamics of the superfluid opposed to the normal fluid surface is responsible for the observed formation times.