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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Photoelectron Imaging of Anions Illustrated by 310 Nm Detachment of F−
Published on: July 27, 2018
Metastable dissociation of anions formed by electron attachment
Fabio Zappa1, Manuel Beikircher, Andreas Mauracher
1Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Leopold Franzens Universität Innsbruck, Austria.
Abstract:
A comprehensive analysis of metastable dissociation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) parent anions formed by attachment of electrons of controlled energy is presented. We characterize the energy dependence and kinetic energy release of the reaction which competes with autodetachment. A surprising finding is a highly exothermic metastable reaction triggered by the attachment of thermal electrons which we relate to the well-known electrostatic ignition hazards of DNT and other explosives. Quantum chemical calculations are performed for dinitrobenzene in order to elucidate the process of NO abstraction.
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