Superinelastic electron transfer: electron trapping in H2O ice via the N-2((2)Pi(g)) resonance

We present measurements on the trapping of 0-3 eV electrons in H2O ice films covered with a submonolayer of N2 molecules. At the energy of the N-2((2)Pi(g)) shape resonance, the absolute cross section for electron trapping in ice is approximately 5.5 x 10(-16) cm(2), similar to that for vibrational excitations of gaseous N2 via the resonance. This result, indicating that nearly all electrons from autoionization of N-2((2)Pi(g)) are transferred to electron traps in ice, is explained by superinelastic electron transfer from N-2((2)Pi(g)) into preexisting traps in polar ice, leaving N2 in high vibrational excited states.