Delayed Ionization and Delayed Detachment in Molecules and Clusters

The evolution of a molecular system excited above its ionization threshold depends on a number of parameters that include the nature of the excited states and their couplings to the various continua. The general nature of the processes governing this evolution depends also essentially on the complexity of the molecule, more precisely on its size, density of states,and strength of the couplings among the various internal degrees of freedom. In this paper we address the question of the transition between autoionization that prevails in small molecules, and delayed ionization occurring in larger molecules or clusters. This transition is illustrated by autoionization of Na2 Rydberg states on one hand, delayed ionization in fullerene C60, and delayed detachment in small cluster anions on the other hand. All processes are studied in the case of nanosecond laser excitation, corresponding to a rather slow deposition of the internal energy.