On the electron transfer in low-energy collisions of the fully-ionized muonic boron with helium atoms

In connection with recent experiments on the observation of the metastable 2s state of muonic boron (μB)⁴⁺ formed in helium with a small admixture of diborane (B₂H₆) we estimated the cross-section of the electron transfer from helium to the muonic ion. The collisions energy T was considered to lie between the thermal energy and 1 a. u. The muonic ion (μB)⁴⁺ was treated as a heavy beryllium isotope Be4+. It was found that the main reaction responsible for the electron transfer at the energies specified above was: Be⁴⁺ + He → Be³⁺(1s) + He²⁺ + e^-. . Its mechanism is the Auger effect in the two-electron quasi-molecule (Be-He)⁴⁺. In our estimation of its cross-section we used adiabatic quasi-molecular terms obtained by diagonalizing the electronic Hamiltonian on a basis of several diabatic states constructed from two-centre orbitals. The electronic wavefunctions built with this way were employed to calculate Auger effect rates. The outgoing electron was treated to be free. The relative motion of the nuclei was considered classically. It was found that in the region 0.001 ≤ T ≤ 0.01 (in atomic units) the cross-section was a decreasing function of T and it was small (～ 10^-2 Ų). Then it starts to increase and mounts to typical atomic values (1 Ų) at T = 1 ÷ 2. The comparison of the reaction rate constant estimated on the basis of the obtained cross-section with experimental results establishes the upper limit of the energy of muonic boron during the 2s state lifetime (≈ 40 ns). It proves to be about 25 eV. This limit is in agreement with the typical value of 1 eV resulting from the energy transfer in the muon capture by the diborane molecule and the recoil energy acquired in the cascade. However, it does not exclude the possibility of an additional acceleration of muonic boron during its formation in the molecule.     

Angular distributions of photoelectrons in resonantly enhanced multiphoto ionization via the 7s[1 1/2]0 1 and 8s[1 1/2]0 1 states of Xe

Photoelectron angular distributions have been measured for the three-photon resonant one-photon ionization, (3+1), of Xe via the 7s[1 1/2]⁰ ₁ and 8s[1 1/2]⁰ ₁ states. The results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions of Tang and Lambropoulos [13] for the 8s[1 1/2]⁰ ₁, but not for the 7s[1 1/2]⁰ ₁ state. Furthermore, the results are compared to those which have been obtained by Blazewicz et al. [1] for the three-photon resonant two-photon ionization, (3+2), of Xe via the 6s[1 1/2]⁰ ₁ state.     

Collisional de-excitation of the metastableD-states of Ba+ by He,Ne, N2 and H2

The rate constants 〈σ · υ〉 for collisional de-excitation of the metastable 5D states of Ba⁺ ions have been determined in an ion trap experiment. TheD-states are selectively populated by pulsed laser excitation of the 6P _1/2 or 6P _3/2 state and the decay at different background pressures is monitored by the change in fluorescence intensity of the excited ions. From the pressure dependence of the decay constants we calculate the de-excitation rate constants for different collision partners, averaged over the velocity distribution of the trapped ion cloud. For He, Ne, H₂ and N₂ we obtain in the c.m. energy range of 0.1–0.5 eV: 〈σ·υ〉 (He)=3.0±0.2·10^?13cm³/s, 〈σ·υ〉 (Ne)=5.1±0.4·10^?13cm³/s, 〈σ·υ〉 (H₂)=3.7±0.3·10^?11cm³/s, 〈σ·υ〉 (N₂)=4.4±0.3·10^?11cm³/s. The results can be understood qualitatively by a consideration of the ion-atom and ion-molecules interaction potential.     

Picosecond spectroscopic measurement of very fast intersystem crossing for 9,10-dioxa-anti-bimanes

Picosecond spectroscopy, following the buildup of T₁ → T_n absorption (maximum at 420 nm), shows that the T₁ state of 1,5-diazabicyclo[3,3,0]octa-3,7-diene-2,6-diones(9,10-dioxa-anti-bimanes) is formed within about 10 ps. The nature of the T₁ state was confirmed by decay rates of T₁ → T_n absorption in acetonitrile (n = 0.375 cP, k_nr = 4.5 × 10⁵ s^?1), 1,2-ethanediol (n = 26 cP, k_nr = 1.5 × 10⁴ s^?1 and glycerol (n = 1400 cP, k_nr = 1.3 × 10³ s^?1). The very fast intersystem crossing is ascribed to the proximity of a ³nπ* state to the ππ* (S₁ state produced by light absorption (El-Sayed rule).     

Quantum chemical ab initio calculations for excited states of F IV

Quantum chemical ab initio calculations have been performed for the ground state and for several excited states of the F³⁺ ion (F IV). Three levels of accuracy have been used: Frozen-core SCF calculations (FRC-SCF) to determine orbital energies ε _nl and quantum defects δ _l for excited Rydberg orbitalsnl; frozen-core SCF followed by CI calculations (FRC-CI) which account for multiplet splittings and configuration mixings, and multi-configuration coupled-electron-pair approximation (MC-CEPA) calculations which include dynamic correlation effects. The accuracy of the calculated excitation energies is in the order of 5000 cm^?1 at the FRC-CI level and in the order of 500 cm^?1 at the MC-CEPA level. This latter error amounts to about 0.1% for excitation energies in the range of 400000 to 600000 cm^?1. The MC-CEPA calculations have been performed for 17 experimentally known states and for 14 experimentally unknown states, in particular for the configurations 2s2p ² (² D)3s, 2s 2p ²(² S)3s, 2s ² 2p 4p, and 2s ² 2p 5p.     

Rare gas molecular ions: Formation of XeF+ by ion-molecule reactions in Xe and NF3 and evidence for radiative deactivation of Xe+ (2P12)

The formation of the XeF⁺ ion by ion-molecule reaction has been observed in an ionized mixture of Xe and NF₃ by ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. The excited ²P_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} state of the xenon ion has unambiguously been identified as the major precursor by photoionization mass spectrometry. The NF⁺₃ ion makes an additional minor contribution. Evidence suggests that the excited ²P_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} xenon ion radiatively decays to the ²P_{$\text{3}\text{2}$} ground state on the time scale of the experiment. The transition probability deduced for this dipole forbidden emission, 18 ± 4 s^?1, is in good agreement with the theoretical value of 21 s^?1 for the sum of the magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole transition rates.     

Ion-Molecule reactions in methylamine and dimethylamine and trimethylamine systems

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry has been used to measure the reaction rates for ions derived from methylamine with dimethylamine or trimethylamine. The use of the selective ion ejection technique greatly simplifies the elucidation of the ion-molecule reaction channels. The rate constants for proton transfer from protonated metwlamine, CH₃NH ₃ ⁺ (m/z 32), to dimethylamine and trimethylamine are 16.1 ± 1.6 × 10^?10 and 9.3 ± 0.9 × 10^?10 cm³ molec^?1s^?1, respectively. The rate constants for charge transfer from methylamine molecular ion, CH₃NH ₂ ⁺ (m/z 31), to dimethylamine and trimethylamine are 9.3 ± 1.8 x 10^?10 and 15.0 ± 5 × 10^?10 cm³molec^?1s^?1, respectively.     

Discrimination ofn=2→2 UV transitions of he-like ions in a recoil light source

Neon and argon recoil ions were produced by collisions with 5.9 MeV/amu uranium projectiles andΔn=0 ultraviolet transitions from the metastable 1s2p ³ P _0,2 levels of the target ions were measured in delay to the pulsed projectile beam.     

Kinetics of the reversible photoaquation of the octacyanomolybdate(IV) ion

The kinetics of the photoaquation of the octacyanomolybdate(IV) ion in aqueous solution were studied by potentiometric and spectrophotometric methods. In an alkaline medium a simple scheme analogous to the photoaquation of the hexacyanoferrate(II) ion describes the process. The values of the constants of the kinetic equation are: (Φ = 1.0, k₈ = (6.55 ± 0.8) x 10⁻⁹ s⁻¹, and k₋₈ = (7.88 ± 0.5) x 10⁻² mol⁻¹ dm³ s⁻¹ (pH = 10.5). The reversibility of the photoaquation is also explained by the scheme. A simultaneous measurement of free cyanide ion concentration and the absorbance at 512nm shows that the red coloured transition product is a heptacyano complex.     

Hyperfine structure constants of the CaII states 4s 2 S 1/2 and 4p 2 P 1/2, 3/2 and the nuclear quadrupole moment of43Ca

The hyperfine structure splittings of the 4s ² S _1/2 → 4p ² P _{1/2, 3/2} transitions in⁴³CaII have been measured by fast ion beam collinear laser spectroscopy. The resonant laser interaction was observed using non-optical detection based on optical ground state depopulation pumping, state selective neutralization and charge state separated particle counting. The extracted magnetic dipole hyperfine structure constants for⁴³CaA(² S _1/2)=?805(2) MHz,A(² P _1/2)=?145.5(1.0) MHz andA(² P _3/2)=?31.9(0.2) MHz are in excellent agreement with relativistic many body perturbation theory predictions available for this alkali-like ion. The combined results are used to evaluate the semi-empirical analysis method. From the electrical quadrupole hyperfine structure constantB(² P _3/2)=?6.7(1.4) MHz and the calculatedB/Q value for this one valence electron configuration, the nuclear quadrupole momentQ(⁴³Ca)=?0.043(9)b is derived. This result supports a previous evaluation based on the hyperfine structure of the two valence electron³ P configurations of CaI.     

CAS SCF Cl calculations for the 3Σ−g, 1Σ+g, 3Σ+u, and 5Δu states of Sc2

CAS SCF CI (SD) calculations have been carried out for the ³Σ^?_g, ¹Σ⁺_g, ³Σ⁺_u, and ⁵Δ_u states of Sc₂ using large gaussian basis sets. The ³Σ^?_g, ¹Σ⁺_g, and ³Σ⁺_u states arise from the ²D(4s² 3d¹) + ²D(4s² 3d¹) limit of Sc₂ and are found to be only weakly bound (D_c ≈ 0.06 eV and R_c ≈ 8.0a₀). The ⁵Δ_u state arises from the ²D(4s² 3d¹) + ⁴F(4s¹ 3d¹ 4p¹) atomic limit. This state is found to be strongly bound relative to its limits (D_c ≈ 0.8 eV and R_c ≈ 7.0a₀).     

Radiation from metastable highly-charged ions extracted from a gas target

Few-electron ions of argon have been produced by heavy ion impact in a gas target. The recoil ions have been extracted into a region with high vacuum, and the K radiation of long-lived states has been observed by means of a position sensitive proportional counter oriented along the flight path of the ions. Fast ion beams are frequently used to determine the lifetimes τ of excited levels by time-of-flight techniques [1]. Typical ion velocities are v=1 cm/ns (beam energy 0.5 MeV/amu) or higher. The usual length l of experimental chambers rarely exceeds l=1 m. This decay path corresponds to roughly 100ns, and very few experiments on fast ion beams have been done on longer-lived states. Notable examples are the Berkeley measurements on the Ar¹⁶⁺ 1s2s³S₁ lifetime (calculated around τ=210 ns [2, 3], decay path ～8m) which resulted in a lower lifetime result (172±30ns) than expected and which were later shown to suffer from various systematic errors, the most important being the lack of spectral resolution of radiation from the helium-like or from core-excited lithiumlike ions. An alternative approach, a coincidence measurements of x-rays and projectile ions to associate the detected quanta with ions of a given charge state is difficult for high energy and high current ion beams.     

Spectroscopy of triatomic hydrogen

The visible emission spectra of H₃, D₂H, H₂D and D₃ were studied. Triatomic hydrogen molecules were produced by neutralization of fast ion beams in alkali vapors. In addition to the well-known 0-0 bands, weak vibrational bands of the electronic 3p ² A″ ₂ → 2s ² A′ ₁ transition of D₃ and D₂H were observed and analyzed. From the decay of the emission along the molecular beam lifetimes of excited states were obtained. For all observed states, 3p ² A″ ₂, 3s ² A′ ₁ and 3d, lifetimes strongly depend on the isotopic mixture. Many lifetimes measured were considerably shorter than ab initio predictions of the radiative lifetimes. Thus radiationless decay is important for all these excited states. Predissociation of the 3p ² A″ ₂ state increases with the rotational quantum number. Possible decay channels are discussed.     

A Quantum Chemical Study of C<Subscript>60</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>30</Subscript>, C<Subscript>60</Subscript>(OH)<Subscript>30</Subscript> Molecules and Fe@C<Subscript>60</Subscript>(OH)<Subscript>30</Subscript> Endocomplex

(U)PBE0/cc-pVDZ method is used to study the structure of C₆₀Cl₃₀, C₆₀(OH)₃₀ molecules and Fe@C₆₀(OH)₃₀ endocomplex. The triplet state of the endocomplex is shown to be the lowest in energy among its four states corresponding to different spin multiplicities and positions of Fe nucleus within the fullerene cavity. This state is characterized by bonding between the iron atom and one of two benzenoid cycles of the carbon cage, six internuclear Fe–C distances (208 pm), and 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶3d^7.24s^0.14p^0.3 electron configuration of iron with spin population of 2.36.     

Solvation and lon association in the system AgNO3−CH3CN: A Raman and infrared spectral study

Detailed studies of the Raman and infrared line parameters of AgNO₃?CH₃CN systems ranging from dilute solutions to 9M are reported. A concentration quotient of 1.1M ^?1 was obtained for the formation of the Ag⁺NO ₃ ^? ion pair when C<4M. The complex appears to have point group C_s(σ_V) with Ag⁺ in a “roll-on” position. The Ag⁺ ion is solvated by four molecules of CH₃CN; nitrate ion replaces three of these when bound to Ag⁺. When C>4M, multiple ion aggregates form in the solution. A low-frequency 110 cm^?1 line is ascribed to librational motions of NO ₃ ^? , probably bound to Ag⁺.     

Kinetics of the photoaquation of Hexacyanoferrate(II) ion

Kinetics of the photoaquation of hexacyanoferrate(II) ion in aqueous solution were studied potentiometrically and spectrophotometrically. Supposing the simplest mechanism (see Fig. 3. in text), the photoaquation in alkaline medium can be well described. The value of the constants at pH = ll.0 are: ø = 0.8-1.0, k₆ = (3.0 ± 0.5) × 10^?8 s^?1 and k_?6 = 1.5 ± 0.2 mol^?1 dm₃ s^?1. To describe the photoaquation in neutral medium t was extended (k′ = 3.33 x 10² mol^?1 dm³s^?1). The quantum yield in acidic medium can be calculated by combination of ø values of different protonated complexes. The reversibility of photoaquation in alkaline medium is also explained by the scheme.     

CO inner-shell excitation studied by electron impact spectroscopy

The inner-shell excitation and decay of the CO molecule have been studied in electron impact experiments. The dipole-forbidden transition (1sσ_c)⁻¹(2pπ) ³Π has been characterized by angular resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy and its decay via the measurement of resonant Auger spectra. The contribution of the (1sσ_c)⁻¹(2pπ) ³Π state to the CO resonant Auger spectrum in the region of the “spectator transitions” has been isolated and the population of CO⁺ quartet final states has been observed.     

Evidence for electron orbital dependence of ion-beam induced attenuations of transient magnetic fields

From measurements of transient magnetic fields (TF) on⁵⁶Fe(2 ₁ ⁺ ) ions in Gd host there is evidence that beam induced attenuations of TF not only depend on the energy loss of the beam ions in the ferromagnet but also on the electron ns-orbitals of the probe ion contributing to the field. This has been demonstrated for 2s- and 3s-electron states of⁵⁶Fe ions which are preferentially populated by setting the ion velocity to their respective orbital Bohr velocities.     

Determination of the population,depopulation and the anisotropic spin lattice relaxation rates in the photoexcited triplet state of phenazine. A light modulation-EPR study

The photoexcited triplet state of phenazine in toluene glasses at 35 K is investigated by light modulation-EPR spectroscopy. From the transient EPR spectra and the kinetics in the three canonical orientations (p = x, y, z) the rate parameters are determined. Thus, the depopulation rate constants k_p, the anisotropic spin lattice relaxation rate constants W_p, and the ratios between the population constants A_p are calculated: k_x = (2.2 ± 0.3) × 10² s^?1, k_y = (0.21 ± 0.04) × 10² s^?1, k_z = (0.06 ± 0.03) × 10² s^?1, W_x = (8.6 ± 0.9) × 10³ s^?1, W_y = (11.0 ± 1.0) × 10³ s^?1, W_z = (14.0 ± 1.4) × 10³ s^?1, and A_x: _Ay:A_z ≈ 1:0.04:0.02. It is concluded therefore that the in-plane spin state |τ_x > is the active one.     

Beam-foil spectroscopy in the 3–6 nm soft-X-ray range

A grazing-incidence spectrometer for the wavelength range λ≦13 nm has been built and tested with foil-excited fast oxygen ions. The new apparatus has been used to study the variation of the 2s 3p ³ P ₁ ⁰ level lifetime in the Be isoelectronic sequence by observation of the intercombination decay to the 2s ^{2 1} S ₀ ground state. The experimental problems are described. The results agree with only some of the theoretical predictions.