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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Photoelectron Imaging of Anions Illustrated by 310 Nm Detachment of F−
Published on: July 27, 2018
Slow photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy of C(2)N(-), C(4)N(-), and C(6)N(-)
Etienne Garand1, Tara I Yacovitch, Daniel M Neumark
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Abstract:
High resolution photoelectron spectra of C(2)N(-), C(4)N(-), and C(6)N(-) anions are reported, obtained using slow electron velocity-map imaging. The spectra show well resolved transitions to the X (2)Pi neutral ground state of all three species and to the a (4)Sigma(-) excited state of C(2)N and C(4)N. This study yields the adiabatic electron affinity of C(2)N, C(4)N, and C(6)N, the spin-orbit splitting in the X (2)Pi state of each radical, and the term energy of the a (4)Sigma(-) state in C(2)N and C(4)N. Relatively little vibrational activity is observed, indicating small geometry changes upon photodetachment. This result, plus the observation of transitions to neutral quartet states, indicates that the C(2n)N(-) (n=1-3) anions all have linear (3)Sigma(-) ground states.
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