Selectivity in resonant vibrational excitation by e− impact (0.3–4.5 eV) on formaldehyde,acetaldehyde and acetone

Vibrational excitation by e⁻ impact via low-energy resonances has been investigated in acetaldehyde and acetone and compared with similar results in formaldehyde. Despite the large number of vibrational modes involved, the three systems exhibit a selective excitation of only several modes. Besides an important excitation of the CO stretch modes (dominant in H₂CO), excitation of CH stretch, CH₃ stretch and CH₃ deformation are also observed in CH₃CHO and (CH₃)₂CO. Interpretation of the energy loss spectra is given in terms of recently developed symmetry considerations together with the character of the LUMO occupied by the extra electron to form the transitory negative ion (resonance). Differential cross sections versus electron energy are presented for elastic and several inelastic processes. Weak oscillations (of the “boomerang” type) are observed on the inelastic cross sections for acetaldehyde, whereas no structure appears for acetone. This is in contrast with the pronounced oscillations observed for H₂CO, and reveals a shorter lifetime for the CH₃CHO⁻ and (CH₃)₂CO⁻ resonant states, compared to H₂CO⁻.     

On the vibrational dependence of electron impact ionization of diatomic molecules

The dependence of the Na₂ electron impact ionization rate is measured as a function of vibrational excitation in a crossed molecule-electron beamm arrangement at collision energiesE _coll ≤ 3 eV above the ionization threshold. Specific vibrational distributions in theX ¹∑ _g ⁺ state with average vibrational energies of 0.17 eV, 0.276 eV, and 0.349 eV, are prepared via Franck-Condon pumping using a narrow-band cw laser. Enhancement of the ionization rate is observed only at impact energies near the ionization threshold where the ionization rate increases linearly as a function of vibrational excitation. Analysis of the experimental data is based on three model calculations. The first of these calculations equates vibrational energy with kinetic energy and agrees well with the experimental data. A second, more refined model allows for differences in state-to-state ionization rates and uses Franck-Condon factors to estimate transition probabilities, but leads to a less favorable agreement. The third one employs a semi-classical formulation of the Franck-Condon principle. It provides the best agreement with the experimental data. In contrast with an earlier study of electron impact ionization of diatomic molecules [20], we find no evidence of dynamical modification of the ionization rate, due to vibrational motion of the nuclei, at the present level of accuracy of our data and analysis.     

Electronic structure of the 1,3-butadiyne anion studied by electron transmission and vibrational excitation spectra in the gas phase

The electron transmission and vibrational excitation spectra of the title compound are reported. Two bands, at 1.0 and 5.6 eV are found in the ETS spectrum. The 1.0 eV resonance excites mainly the CC stretch vibration ν₂ and the CH bend vibrations ν_6,8 in even quanta. It has been assigned to the ²Π_u (in linear geometry) ground state of the anion. This state is found to be bent in the equilibrium geometry and the minimum of the anion potential surface lies outside of the Franck-Condon region. The band around 5.6 eV is interpreted as the ²Π_g resonance overlapping with a σ^* resonance which excites mainly the CH stretch vibration ν₁. A remarkable feature is the excitation of high levels of the CH bend vibration near threshold, with E_r ? 0.3 eV.     

Vibrattonal excitation via shape resonances in electron scattering from N2 multilayer films1

Intramolecular vibrational excitation accompanied by multiphonon transitions in solid multilayer N₂ flims is studied by electron impact. The intensity of tne first three vibrational modes of ground-state N₂ exhibits broad resonances as a function of incident election energy in the range 1–25 eV. These features appear closely related to negative-ion shape resonances.     

Triatom-triatom collisions: Fixed angle close-coupling study of vibrational excitation in the 12CO2+13CO2 system

A close-coupling approach to the calculation of quantal vibrational transition probabilities for the fixed angle scattering of a linear triatomic molecule with another linear triatomic molecule is described. The method is applied to the ¹²CO₂+¹³C0₂ collisional system. For a calculated inelastic transition probability to have an appreciable magnitude, it is found that the amount of energy transferred in a transition must be very small and just one quantum of energy must be exchanged between either the symmetric stretch or the asymmetric stretch vibrational modes of ¹²C0₂ and ¹³CO₂. For collisional energies away from threshold, the probabilities for transitions involving the symmetric stretch ¹²CO₂ and ¹³CO₂ modes are insensitive to long range multipole terms in the potential energy surface, while the probabilities for energy exchange between the asymmetric stretch modes are considerably diminished when the long range terms are removed from the potential energy surface. A brief discussion is presented on the possibilities of extending the technique to the calculation of vibrational excitation cross sections for three-dimensional triato—triatom collisions.     

Ab initio rovibrational states and infrared spectrum of RbCN

Using an ab initio potential surface the rovibrational states of RbCN are calculated in the atom-(rigid) diatom formalism. From these, infrared transition intensities and vibrationally averaged dipole moments are obtained, using an ab initio dipole surface. The lower vibrational states can be labeled by bend and stretch, for which the fundamental frequencies are 100.4 and 258.0 cm⁻¹. At energies higher than 500 cm⁻¹, many overlapping resonances are found and the vibrational labeling breaks down. The calculated ground-state rotational constants are A = 2.269 cm⁻¹, B = 0.106 cm⁻¹ and C = 0.100 cm⁻¹, with an inertial defect ΔI = 0.687 amu Ų. For the higher vibrational states these parameters are used to study the increasing floppyness of the molecule and its behaviour as an effective linear isocyanide in excited states. At low temperature, the vibrational absorption spectrum only contains the fundamental transitions plus a transition caused by a Fermi resonance between the stretch fundamental and the third bending overtone. At high temperature, the chaotic and quasi-linear states have a marked effect on the absorption spectrum.     

Interference effects in 1<Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis> → π* resonance excitation processes of the no molecule

A ¹Π → X ¹Σ⁺ fluorescence in the NO⁺ molecular ion observed after Auger decay of the 1s ^?1 π* resonances of the N*O molecule and NO* was studied theoretically. The energies and probabilities of the transition between the vibrational levels of the electronic states, determining the excitation and Auger decay of the resonances of the nitrogen monoxide molecule and further radiation-induced decay of the NO⁺ molecular ion were calculated by the first principles method. Multiplet splitting of the resonances of N*O and NO* and interference of the amplitudes of excitation of the molecule through various vibrational levels of the intermediate resonance explain the observed dependences of the intensity of A ¹Π(υ′) → X ¹Σ⁺(υ″) fluorescence on the excitation radiation energy. The discrepancies between the calculated and experimental integrated intensities of fluorescence point to the necessity of studying cascade processes determined by radiation transitions in NO⁺, including dipole transitions with a changed net spin.     

The kinetic and internal energies of OH(A2Σ+) produced by electron stimulated desorption from TiO2, NaCl and SrF2 surfaces

The kinetic and internal energies of OH(A ²Σ⁺) radicals produced by electron-stimulated desorption from H₂O-exposed TiO₂, NaCl and SrF₂ surfaces are reported. The kinetic energies were determined by measuring the spatial extent of the fluorescence above each substrate surface, while the vibrational and rotational energies were determined by analyzing the intensity distribution of the rovibrational spectra. We find that OH* from NaCl and SrF₂ has low kinetic energy, 80 and 150 meV, respectively, and low rotational excitation, T_rot ≈ 340–450 K. OH* from TiO₂ is more energetic, E_kin = 250 meV and T_rot ≈ 1000 K. The OH* vibrational excitation is high. T_vib ≈ 2000 K, and independent of the nature of the substrate.     

Electron spectroscopy of hydrogen fluoride resonances

Transmission electron spectroscopy has been applied to determine the energies of resonances in HF. In addition to a sharp resonance at 10.05 eV, a resonance series exhibiting both vibrational and rotational structure is resolved in the energy range between 12 eV and 13 eV and the following molecular constants are obtained: B = 20.4 cm^?1, r_e, = 0.93 Å, ω_e 0.132 eV, ω_ex_e = 0.006 eV and D_e = 0.73 eV. The resonance spectrum is analysed with reference to an electron energy loss spectrum and approximate potential energy curves are deduced. Serious discrepancies are found between the present results and the data reported by Spence and Noguchi.     

Electronic band structure of solid CO2 as determined from the hv-dependence of photoelectron emission

Photoelectron energy distribution curves from solid CO₂ have been determined for excitation energies from hv = 14 up to 40 eV using synchrotron radiation. A 1:1 correspondence to the gas-phase photoelectron spectrum is observed for the occupied molecular orbitals. The vertical binding energies E_B^v (E_VAC = 0) and widths (fwhm) of the valence bands of solid CO₂ are determined to be 13.0 and 0.95 eV (1π_g); 16.7 and 1.1 eV (1π_u); 17.6 and 0.85 eV (3σ_u) and 18.8 and 0.8 eV (4σ_g) for the individual bands respectively. The partial photoemission cross sections differ importantly from those of the gas phase in exhibiting pronounced maxima at 5.2 eV (1π_g), 4.4–5.3 eV (1π_u + 3σ_u) and 4.2 eV (4σ_g) above the vacuum level, which is attributed to effects of high density of final (conduction-band) states. Further weaker maxima are observed at higher photon energies. Contrary to the case for the gas phase, the resonances are unperturbed in the solid by degenerate autoionizing molecular Rydberg states. The molecular origin of the resonances in the continuum is discussed and related to X-ray absorption spectra, electron-scattering data and to theoretical cross-section calculations. It is shown that the same set of resonances is observed in the different experiments. The resonances occur however at different energies due to different Coulomb interactions. The photoemission results presented provide also a key to the hitherto unexplained optical spectrum of solid CO₂ in the VUV range, making possible an assignment of the structures observed to Frenkel-type excitons (hv ≤ 15 eV) and interband transitions (hv ? 15 eV).     

Electron scattering in Pt(PF3)4: elastic scattering, vibrational, and electronic excitation

Experimental absolute differential cross sections for elastic scattering, and for vibrational and electronic excitation of Pt(PF(3))(4) by low-energy electrons are presented. The elastic cross sections have a deep angle-dependent Ramsauer-Townsend minimum (E(min) = 0.26 eV at θ = 135°). The angular distributions of the elastic cross section at and above 6.5 eV show an unusually narrow peak at an angle which decreases with increasing energy (it is at 40° at 20 eV). Wavy structure is observed at higher angles at 15 and 20 eV. Vibrational excitation cross sections reveal five shape resonances, at 0.84, 1.75, 3.3, 6.6, and 8.5 eV. The angular distributions of the vibrational cross sections have a strong forward peak and are nearly isotropic above about 60°. Electronically excited states are characterized by electron energy-loss spectra. They show a number of unstructured bands, the lowest at 5.8 eV. They are assigned to Rydberg states converging to the 1st and 2nd ionization energies. The cross sections for electronic excitation have very high forward peaks, reaching the value of 50 A?(2) at 50 eV and 0° scattering angle. Purity of the sample was monitored by the very low frequency (26 meV) Pt-P stretch vibration in the energy-loss spectra.     

Electron scattering from tetrafluoroethylene

We report experimental results for electron scattering from tetrafluoroethylene, C2F4, obtained from measurements in two laboratories. An extensive set of differential, integral, and momentum transfer cross sections is provided for elastic scattering for incident electron energies from 1 to 100 eV and inelastic (vibrational excitation) scattering for incident electron energies at 3, 6, 7.5, 8, and 15 eV, and for scattering angles ranging from 10 degrees to 130 degrees. To highlight the role of intermediate negative ions (resonances) in the scattering process we have also measured excitation functions for elastic scattering and vibrational excitation of the ground electronic state of C2F4 for incident energies between 1.5 and 20 eV. Our results are compared with recent theoretical calculations and a limited number of other experimental results.     

Electron attachment to oxygen and oxygen/ozone clusters studied in a high-resolution crossed beams experiment

Highly monochromatized electrons (with 30 meV FWHM) are used in a crossed beams experiment to investigate electron attachment to oxygen clusters (O₂)_n at electron energies from approximately zero eV up to 2 eV. At energies close to zero the attachment cross section for the reaction (O₂)_n +e → O ₂ ^? varies inversely with the electron energy, indicative of s-wave electron capture to (O₂)_n. Peaks in the attachment cross section present at higher energies can be ascribed to vibrational levels of the oxygen anion. The vibrational spacings observed can be quantitatively accounted for. In addition electron attachment to mixed oxygen/ozone clusters has been studied in the energy range up to 4 eV. Despite the initially large excess of oxygen molecules in the neutral clusters the dominant attachment products are undissociated cluster ions (O₃) _m ^? including the O ₃ ^? monomer while oxygen cluster ions (O₂) _n ^? appear with comparatively low intensity.     

Proton transfer from nitromethane stimulated by C-H overtone excitation: evidence for vibrational photochemistry in solution

Vibrational overtone excitation of nitromethane in the C-H stretch (Δv = 3) band at 1144 nm enhances the rate of proton transfer to D₂O solvent. Evidence is presented for vibrational photochemistry with quantum yield (3± 1 × 10⁻⁵.     

Some recent experiments on inelastic electron-molecule collisions at low energies

This work describes a novel trochoidal electron spectrometer and illustrates its properties on a few examples. In the first example vibrational excitation in the small molecules H₂ and N₂ is measured. Comparison of the results with theoretical work points to the neccessity of using non local methods for correct treatment of near-threshold region and of extremely short-lived resonances. In the second example the observation of resonant autodetachment of Feshbach resonances in many organic molecules is reported.     

Near infrared absorption spectrum of perfluoro-t-butanol/acetonitrile complexes at low temperatures: Fermi resonances and simultaneous transitions

Interactions between perfluoro-t-butanol (PFTB) and acetonitrile-d₃ (AN) in a mixture of freons are studied between 298 and 88 K in liquid or vitreous states. In the conditions of the experiment, a mean 1:2 stoichiometry [PFTB⋯(AN)₂] is inferred from previous matrix measurements. A ν_OH shift of about 160 cm⁻¹ is observed in this temperature range: it is mainly ascribed to solvent effects on the complex. In fact, the dν_OH/dT coefficient increases at low temperature on account of specific solvation of the complex by the freon Br atoms. The ν_OH + τ_OH combination wavenumber is little dependent on the state of PFTB, near 3900 cm⁻¹. A comparatively strong simultaneous transition involving the PFTB ν_OH mode and a ν_CN mode of neighbouring AN molecules is observed. Weaker bands could also be explained by such transitions involving a combination level of PFTB and a ν_CN vibration. Strong Fermi resonances are displayed in the 2ν_OH region when the ν_OH band is located around 3100 cm⁻¹, either in pure AN or in freons at low temperature. The levels interacting with 2ν_OH are ternary combinations and quaternary overtones mainly involving the COH bend and the CO stretch. These resonances are favoured by a strong increase of the OH stretching vibration anharmonicity.     

Rydberg states of the K2 molecule studied by laser spectroscopy in a supersonic beam

Rydberg states of potassium dimer have been studied in a crossed laser-molecular beam experiment. The K₂ molecules were formed in a supersonic expansion and excited by low-power cw dye laser. Two different excitation schemes have been used: The first scheme uses a single mode ring dye laser to induce near resonant two-photon transitions while in the second scheme stepwise excitation with two dye lasers is used. In each case excitation of Rydberg levels was detected by monitoring the ionization signal resulting from three-photon absorption. We report a detailed study of 700 two-photon resonances between 625 nm and 650 nm. Most of these signals can be assigned to transitions from the X¹σ _g ⁺ to¹σ _g ⁺ ,¹Π _g , and^1Δ _g states, which are all enhanced by the B¹Π _u intermediate state. Accurate rotational constants are given for the populated vibrational levels of these states. By stepwise excitation of Rydberg levels via theB ¹Π _u state we identify 3 series of Rydberg states as¹Δ _g (4S+nD),¹Σ _g ⁺ (4S+nD), and¹Σ _g ⁺ (4S+nS) with principal quantum numbers 7≦n≦20. Molecular constants of these and other observed but as yet unidentified states are given; quantum defects and dissociation energies are discussed.     

Dissociative electron attachment to polyatomic molecules: Ion kinetic energy measurements

Dissociative electron attachment to SO₂, NO₂, NF₃ and H₂O₂ is studied in terms of the kinetic energies of the dominant fragment ions. The O^? data from SO₂ show that the two major resonances at 4.6 and 7.2 eV respectively have the same dissociation limit. Similarly, the resonances at 1.8 and 3.5 eV in the O^? channel in NO₂ appear to have same dissociation limit of NO (X ²Π) + O^?, while the resonance at 8.5 eV appears to dissociate to give NO (a ⁴Π_i) along with O^?. We find considerable internal excitation of the neutral fragments in all these cases along with that of NF₃, whereas the negative ion resonance in H₂O₂ appears to fragment almost like a diatomic system with very little internal excitation of the OH and OH^? fragments.     

Spectroscopy and decay dynamics of jet-cooled carbazole and N-ethylcarbazole and their homocyclic analogues

Fluorescence excitation spectra of supersonic jet-cooled carbazole (C) and N-ethylcarbazole (EC) are reported together with those of their homocyclic analogues fluorene (F) and 9-ethylfluorene (EF). Fluorescence spectra of C and EC have been measured following excitation at energies up to ≈ 1300 cm⁻¹ above the S₁ origin and reveal that the onset of intramolecular vibrational redistribution occurs at around 900 cm⁻¹ for both molecules, with redistribution being more extensive in the ethylated molecule. In C and EC, a number of modes are active in vibronically coupling the S₁ and S₂ states and Duschinsky mixing of these modes is apparent in the spectra. The fluorescence lifetimes of both C and EC show a slowly decreasing trend with increasing excitation energy in the range 0–1500 cm⁻¹ excess vibrational energy; vibrational redistribution does not appear to enhance the rate of non-radiative decay in either molecule. Comparison of lifetime values under supersonic jet conditions with solution phase results indicates that solvation produces a considerable increase in the rate of intersystem crossing in these molecules.     

Intramolecular vibrational state mixing in glyoxal by stimulated emission pumping spectroscopy

Stimulated emission pumping spectra of glyoxal in a supersonic jet were recorded up to 7000 cm⁻¹ above the ground vibrational state employing X̃(¹A_g) ← Ã(¹A_u)2¹₀ vibronic transitions. At low energies, only isolated states were observed. However, at high energies, clumps of eigenstates were observed, which suggests extensive vibrational state mixing with dense bath states.