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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Photoelectron Imaging of Anions Illustrated by 310 Nm Detachment of F−
Published on: July 27, 2018
The effect of intracluster photoelectron interactions on the angular distribution in I(-)*CH(3)I photodetachment
Matthew Van Duzor1, Jie Wei, Foster Mbaiwa
1Department of Chemistry, Washington University, One Brookings Dr., Campus Box 1134, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, USA.
Abstract:
I(-) and I(-)*CH(3)I velocity mapped photodetachment images are recorded over wavelengths between 270 and 370 nm. Spectral similarities, in conjunction with ab initio calculations show that the cluster anion comprises an atomic iodide anion moiety solvated by a relatively unperturbed CH(3)I molecule. Between 340-370 nm and at 280 nm, free I(-) is produced via a process analogous to dissociative electron attachment within the cluster anion. More strikingly, the photoelectron angular distribution for each species at a given electron kinetic energy is very different, despite detachment occurring from the iodide 5p orbital in each case. These observations reveal the effect of interaction of the photoelectron with the neutral cluster residue and are discussed in terms of resonances associated primarily with the CH(3)I molecule.
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